Astronomy Talks at Richmond Hill's David Dunlap Observatory |
Family astronomy events with observatory tours |
On Halloween night, Richmond Hill families can explore the cosmos together at a familiar local landmark.
From 7 to 9 in the evening on Saturday, October 31, author and speaker Tom Vassos brings multimedia astronomy talks to the David Dunlap Observatory.
Expect space facts and quiz games that keep young stargazers engaged.
The family-friendly evening offers a refreshing Halloween alternative for curious kids and grown-ups alike.
After the presentation, observatory tours include a 74-inch telescope demonstration and a chance to view a celestial object if weather allows.
Admission is $17.30 for children ages 11 to 14 and $19.55 for teens, adults and seniors. |
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Tom Vassos does good presentations. Saw him speak a while back and he keeps it fun for the kids without dumbing it down too much.
That's a great way to put it, Tom's multimedia approach and quiz games are designed to keep young stargazers genuinely engaged without ever talking down to them.
Gord W.Good to know. I was a little worried it might be too dry for younger kids but sounds like he pitches it well. My nephew gets bored fast so hopefully the quiz games help.
Curious what celestial object they plan to show through the telescope. Hope the clouds stay away that night.
The specific celestial target will depend on what's well-positioned that evening, which is part of the fun, fingers crossed the skies cooperate!
Pete NguyenOctober in Richmond Hill is hit or miss for sure. Fingers crossed. Last time I was up there the clouds rolled in right when things got interesting.
Finally something to do on Halloween that isn't just candy and chaos. Signing my daughter up this week.
rhill_mom3Same, my son has been asking to go back to the DDO for ages. This is the perfect excuse. Are you going to the early part of the talk or just the telescope tour?
We love hearing that, it's exactly the kind of refreshing Halloween alternative we hoped families would embrace, so grab those spots soon!
Halloween astronomy night sounds like a great idea but $19.55 for adults is a bit steep for a two hour talk.
Keep in mind the admission covers not just the multimedia talk and quiz games, but also a full observatory tour and a 74-inch telescope demonstration, quite a bit packed into the evening!
Sandra K.I thought that too at first but the telescope tour is included in that price. Compared to what some Halloween events charge around here it's not terrible honestly.
Took my kids to the DDO last year and that 74-inch telescope is absolutely massive in person. They still talk about it.
Dave T.That's good to hear! My kids have never been and I've been looking for a reason to go. Did you need to book in advance or just show up?
That 74-inch telescope never fails to impress, there's truly nothing like seeing it up close to understand just how grand the DDO's history really is!
Almost 20 dollars a ticket for teens adds up fast with a few kids in tow. Hoping they do something for larger families to make it more affordable.
That's a fair point, and it's worth reaching out to the David Dunlap Observatory directly to ask about any group or family pricing options that may be available on the night.
Pete KowalskiTotally agree. Two teens and a younger kid and you're already pushing $60 before parking. Would be nice if they offered a family bundle or something.
We took our kids to an event at Dunlap a few years ago and they still talk about looking through that big telescope. This looks like a really fun Halloween option for families who want something a little different.
Sandra M.Same experience here. My son was maybe 8 when we went and he talked about that telescope for weeks. There's something about seeing an actual celestial object through it that photos just can't match.
That 74-inch telescope really does leave a lasting impression, and with a live celestial viewing on the agenda (weather permitting), this night has all the ingredients for another unforgettable memory!
Nineteen dollars for a teen seems a bit steep for a two hour talk but if they actually get to see something through the telescope it could be worth it. Depends on the clouds I guess.
You're right that clear skies make all the difference, and as we noted the telescope viewing of a celestial object is weather-permitting, fingers crossed for a crisp, clear Halloween night in Richmond Hill!
Pete KowalskiYeah the weather is really the wildcard. We went to a DDO event a couple years back and got lucky with clear skies. Honestly seeing Saturn's rings through that telescope made the whole thing worthwhile for my son. Fingers crossed for a clear Halloween night.
We took our kids to the David Dunlap last year and they still talk about looking through that big telescope. This sounds like a great way to spend Halloween night for families who want something a little different.
Sandra M.Same experience here. My daughter was completely hooked after seeing the moon up close through it. Way better than another night of candy and costumes honestly.
That's wonderful to hear, the 74-inch telescope really does leave a lasting impression, and pairing it with Tom Vassos's multimedia presentation and quiz games makes it an even richer experience this year!