Summer Public Night
2026-05-02 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-06-13 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-06-27 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-07-04 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-07-11 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-07-18 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-07-25 20:30 - 23:00, 2026-08-15 20:30 - 23:00 (America/Toronto) and 2 more dates
Join us for a public night at Cronyn Observatory! These free, drop-in events welcome curious minds of all ages to explore astronomy in a fun, relaxed setting. Each night features a talk by a guest speaker on fascinating topics from planets and stars to space missions and cosmic mysteries. Get hands-on with interactive astronomy demonstrations and explore the Observatory’s rich history as you wander through this historic building. When the skies cooperate, we’ll have our telescopes ready for you to observe the night sky and see celestial wonders up close. Our friendly astronomers are eager to share their passion for space and answer all your questions. Whether you’re a lifelong stargazer, bringing the family for a unique evening out, or simply curious about the universe, you’re welcome here. No registration needed – just show up and let the adventure begin!

Sciecne Rendezvous
2026-05-09 20:30 - 23:00
🔭 We’re heading to Science Rendezvous on May 9th — come find us!
If you’ve ever wondered what the Sun actually looks like up close, or how scientists can tell what a star is made of just from its light, this is your chance to find out in person.
We’ll be at Thompson Arena from noon to 6 pm as part of Western’s free annual science festival — 42 booths, all free, all open to anyone curious enough to show up.
At our “Starlight Detective” booth, you can:

See how infrared reveals what your eyes can’t see
Try a hands-on demo of how astronomers “read” light to understand the universe
Get a feel for the magnification power of a telescope

If the weather cooperates, we’ll also have solar telescopes set up outside so you can see the Sun safely.
Then at 8:30 pm, the night continues at Cronyn Observatory for our regular public night — a talk on “Astronomy Ignited: Things That Go Boom in the Universe”, a tour of the observatory, and a look through our telescopes into the night sky.
📅 May 9th, 2026 🕛 12:00 – 6:00 pm — Thompson Arena 🕣 8:30 – 11:00 pm — Cronyn Observatory (A 3-minute walk between venues)
Free. No registration. Just show up. More info: https://www.sciencerendezvous-western.ca

Summer Public Night - Visiting Black Holes
2026-05-16 20:30 - 23:00

Summer Public Night - The Infrared View: What the Universe Doesn't Want You to See
2026-05-23 20:30 - 23:00

Summer Public Night - X-ray Astronomy
2026-05-30 20:30 - 23:00

Summer Public Night - Sporadic meteoroids and their risk in space
2026-06-06 20:30 - 23:00

Summer Public Night - Lessons Learned from Balloon Launch
2026-06-20 20:30 - 23:00

Summer Public Night - Brown Dwarfs: Failed Stars or Overachieving Planets
2026-08-01 20:30 - 23:00

Summer Public Night - Space Debris Re-entries: The Consequences of Expanding our Littering to Space
2026-08-08 20:30 - 23:00
