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Tremblant beneath the stars 2009

Tremblant beneath the stars 2009:
celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009

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

August 14-15, 2009
At Tremblant, Mont Tremblant, Quebec

General Information

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

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 Jupiter and its moons through the eye of a telescope, with over 50 amateur astronomers and their telescopes on site to answer your questions. Each evening after sundown, 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 of the Northern Lights. On the giant screen, the CSA Astronaut Bob Thirsk will address the crowd in a message recorded from the International Space Station. Benoît Marcotte, Director General, Operations at the CSA, will follow with his presentation "40 Years in the Cosmos: From Apollo to the International Space Station, Always a Step Beyond."

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 14
Activities in the pedestrian village (near the panoramic gondola)
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm	Visit the CSA's tent and meet the CSA team to learn more about the International Space Station and our Canadian astronauts.
At the summit:
CSA Pavilion:
7:30*, 8:30 pm	Presentation and scientific demonstrations: "Explore the Northern Lights"
8:00, 9:00* pm	Presentation: "The Constellations and Shooting Stars"
*Talk in French.
Outside:
8:06 pm	Sunset (observe at your convenience)
9:00 pm to midnight	Star party with over 50 amateur astronomers and their telescopes. Observation and program on the giant screen: Stargaze guided by a powerful laser** Stars, planets, and galaxies shown on the giant screen Live images from the CSA's Observatory shown on the giant screen (weather permitting)
9:25 pm	Message from CSA Astronaut Bob Thirsk recorded on board the International Space Station
9:30 pm	"40 Years in the Cosmos: From Apollo to the International Space Station, and the Next Steps Beyond," talk on the International Space Station by the CSA's Benoît Marcotte, Director General, Operations (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)
Saturday, August 15
Activities in the pedestrian village (near the panoramic gondola)
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm	Meet amateur astronomers and observe the sun through their telescopes (with safe sun filters).
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm	Visit the CSA's tent and take part in the interactive activities "Living in weightlessness." The CSA team will be supervising the training of new space rookies. Join the astronaut class and manipulate the Canadarm2 simulator.
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm	Visit the CSA's tent and meet the CSA team to learn more about the International Space Station and our Canadian astronauts.
At the summit:
CSA Pavilion:
7:30*, 8:30 pm	Presentation and scientific demonstrations: "Explore the Northern Lights"
8:00, 9:00* pm	Presentation: "The Constellations and Shooting Stars"
*Talk in French.
Outside:
8:08 pm	Sunset (observe at your convenience)
9:00 pm to midnight	Star party with over 50 amateur astronomers and their telescopes. Observation and program on the giant screen: Stargaze guided by a powerful laser** Stars, planets, and galaxies shown on the giant screen Live images from the CSA's Observatory shown on the giant screen (weather permitting)
9:25 pm	Message from CSA Astronaut Bob Thirsk recorded on board the International Space Station
9:30 pm	"40 Years in the Cosmos: From Apollo to the International Space Station, and the Next Steps Beyond," talk on the International Space Station by the CSA's Benoît Marcotte, Director General, Operations (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)

**The laser emits a very powerful green light ray. Lasers must be used with caution as they pose hazards to aircrafts in flight. The CSA has notified civil aviation authorities of the use of such a device in the region.