Public Events

The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory is a working science facility and is only open to the public during our special events

The Universe is calling.....

Answer it at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

Mars Space Night

January 25th, 2025, 7pm to 10pm

Thank you for your interest in our Space Night event. We are currently fully booked and all of our tickets have been confirmed and have a full waitlist.

The Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and uv Research (CASTOR) is a proposed Canadian Space Agency (CSA) mission that would image the skies at ultraviolet (UV) and blue-optical wavelengths. Nick Kuzmin will share how the University of Calgary is contributing to the project and the research possibilities of this new technology.

Space Night will feature access to an array of telescopes operated by University of Calgary astronomers and members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Calgary Centre. You will have the opportunity to look through the telescopes and astronomers will be on hand to answer questions.

In the sky – Close to the new moon phase, the sliver of a waning moon will create great dark sky observing conditions. Saturn and Venus will be low on the western horizon along with Jupiter in the southwest sky. In the eastern sky, the mighty Orion the Hunter will be rising.

What: Space Night Event at the RAO: Presentation and viewing through RAO telescopes

Who: University of Calgary, Physics and Astronomy

Where: Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, east side of Highway 22, 2.4 km south of Hwy 22 and Hwy 22x interchange

When: Saturday January 25, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. **Please dress for the weather**

Cost: $10 per person plus gst & fees. Ticket required for ages 8 and up, please note that the event is geared towards older children and up. This is a ticketed event and only those with a ticket confirmation number will be permitted to purchase tickets. No tickets without a confirmation number are available at the door. All proceeds go to the RAO’s educational programming.

IMPORTANT

Thank you we have received capacity number of ticket requests. If you made a request and have not received an email you have been placed on the waitlist. If tickets become available these tickets are offered to the next name on the waitlist.

We are longer offering ticket sales on Eventbrite. We can accommodate up to 300 visitors and will have 300 tickets available for the event. No tickets without a confirmation email will be available at the door.

Let us know if you have any questions, thank you.