Table of Contents

Tremblant Beneath the Stars

Wish upon a shooting star... dozens of times a night!

See the Perseid meteor showers from the top of Mont-Tremblant in Quebec's beautiful Laurentian mountains.

August 8-9, 2008

At Tremblant, Mont Tremblant, Quebec

General Information

Each year, Tremblant Beneath the Stars, the largest star party in Quebec, offers thousands of novice stargazers a variety of activities to learn more about the beauty of the night sky. See Neptune, Jupiter and the Moon through the eye of a telescope, with over 50 amateur astronomers and their telescopes on site to answer your questions. Count shooting stars from the dark skies at the summit of the mountain. Take a nature hike to spot the constellations and their legends. Visit the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Pavilion to learn the secrets of the Perseid meteors and see a full-size model of the Phoenix Mars Lander, which landed on Mars on May 25, 2008. Watch live images from space broadcast from the CSA's observatory (weather permitting), while a high-powered laser points out celestial objects and satellites overhead.

After sundown, join the CSA's Alain Berinstain for a bilingual presentation entitled, "The Maple Leaf on Mars: The Phoenix Mission to the Red Planet" to learn more about how Canada is participating in this exciting mission.

Be sure to spend some time in the village square and visit the CSA's tent. On Saturday, amateur astronomers from local clubs, as well as the CSA, will make their telescopes available for a special treat—visitors will be able to view the Sun (and possibly even solar flares and sun spots) with the aid of special, safe filters.

Tremblant beneath the stars is organized by the Club des Astronomes Amateurs de Laval (the Laval Amateur Astronomy Club), Station Mont-Tremblant (Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort) and the Canadian Space Agency.

For directions, visit www.tremblant.ca.

Cost

While there is no admission fee for Tremblant Beneath the Stars, lift tickets for the panoramic gondola to the summit of the mountain are as follows (tax not included):

Adult (18-64): $15.65
Senior (65 +): $14.35
Youth (6-17): $12.60
Children (0-5): $1.75

Royalty and taxes not included. Good for one round-trip.

Be sure to come early and take advantage of the activities, as well as the breathtaking sunset from the mountaintop.

Tips for observing the stars like a pro!

• Dress warmly! It can get cold at the summit of the mountain (even in summertime). Pack your hat and gloves, and perhaps a thermos of hot chocolate!
• Bring a folding chair or a blanket to sit on.
• Don't forget your binoculars. Under the right observing conditions, you will be surprised how many stars you can observe with them.

For safety's sake, carry a flashlight with a red bulb or, if you have a clear bulb, cover it with red cellophane paper or red tape. Amateur astronomers use red lights only because white light is harder on the eyes in the dark.

Program

Note: The event will take place rain or shine.

Friday, August 8
Activities in the pedestrian village (near the panoramic gondola)
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm	Visit the CSA's tent to learn more about the Phoenix mission to Mars
At the summit*:
7:00 pm to midnight	Inside the CSA's Pavilion (beside the gondola): Presentations on the constellations and the Perseid meteor showers (English and French show times posted at the door) See a life-sized model of the Phoenix Mars Lander!
8:00 p.m.	Observe the setting sun through telescopes
9:00 pm to midnight	Star party with over 50 telescopes. A powerful laser will point out stars, planets and passing satellites, which will be shown on a giant screen, featuring live images from the CSA's Observatory (weather permitting).
9:30	"The Maple Leaf on Mars: The Phoenix Mission to the Red Planet," by the CSA's Alain Berinstain, (bilingual; on the giant screen)
9:30 pm, 10:30 pm	Nature hike to learn the secrets of the starry night (reserve in advance in front of the Merrell pavilion)

Saturday, August 9
Activities in the pedestrian village (near the panoramic gondola)
1:00 to 4:00 pm	Meet amateur astronomers and observe the sun through their special telescopes.
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm	Visit the CSA's tent to learn more about the Phoenix mission to Mars
At the summit*:
7:00 pm to midnight	Inside the CSA's Pavilion (beside the gondola): Presentations on the constellations and the Perseid meteor showers (English and French show times posted at the door) See a life-sized model of the Phoenix Mars Lander!
8:00 pm	Observe the setting sun through telescopes
9:00 pm to midnight	Star party with over 50 telescopes. A powerful laser will point out stars, planets and passing satellites, which will be shown on a giant screen, featuring live images from the Canadian Space Agency's Observatory (weather permitting).
9:30 pm	"The Maple Leaf on Mars: The Phoenix Mission to the Red Planet," by the CSA's Alain Berinstain, (bilingual; on the giant screen)
9:30, 10:30 pm	Nature hike to learn the secrets of the starry night (reserve in advance in front of the Merrell pavilion)

* Don't forget to pack a change of warm clothes, as the weather can be unpredictable at the summit of the mountain.