H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
1100 Chestnut Street V6J 3J9 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Keep an eye on the skies this coming Sunday and Monday to see the best meteor shower of the year! For more info, visit: http://ow.ly/URqk50CJsgt :NASA

#QuestionOfTheDay What is the Cosmic Microwave Background? The Cosmic Microwave Background (or CMB) is the radiation left over from the intense heat of The Big Bang! While first theorized in the late 1940's, the CMB was actually observed for the first time by accident! It was interfering with a radio receiver that was being built at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1965. This discovery ended up leading to a Nobel Prize in physics! Image Credit: NASA

Join us TOMORROW for another virtual astronomy event... for adults! Thursday, November 19th Virtual Cosmic Nights: Gravitational Waves will feature talks, shows, and activities that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Our host Michael Unger will be joined by our astronomer Rachel Wang, and Dr. Jess McIver, assistant physics professor who leads the gravitational waves group at the University of British Columbia! By tuning in live you’ll have an opportunity to ...ask questions and join the discussion. So grab your favourite beverage and tune in as we celebrate the vibrations of the universe! To register, visit: http://ow.ly/Mm5v50Ce761

SpaceX's Crew-1 launch for NASA is carrying rock-eating microbes (and more weird science)

#DidYouKnow that in order the detect gravitational waves from events like binary neutron star mergers (pictured here), LIGO's optical components must stay within a massive, ultra-high vaccum chamber? The vacuum environment prevents sound waves from causing vibrations on the mirros that make up LIGO. Fun Fact: It took 40 days to evacuate the vacuum tubes to ideal operating pressue, making it the third-largest vacuum chamber in the world! To learn more about gravitational waves..., head to: spacecentre.ca/gravitational-waves : National Science Foundation/LIGO/Sonoma State University/A. Simonnet

Four astronauts are scheduled to launch Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center.

Join us TODAY at 2PM PST for another Ask an Astronomer livestream on YouTube! Our Astronomer Rachel and Programs Coordinator Michael will be online to report the latest in the universe! Stream Link: http://ow.ly/gPDU50CwRhe

In mid-November, the fickle Leonid meteor shower hits Earth once again. This annual meteor shower, which peaks overnight on Nov 16-17, is responsible for some of the most intense meteor storms in history. Sometimes, meteors fall at rates as high as 50,000 per hour.

Join us this Thursday at 2PM PST for another Ask an Astronomer livestream on YouTube! Our Astronomer Rachel and Programs Coordinator Michael will be joined by special guest and astrophysicist Nathalie Ouellette! Stream Link: http://ow.ly/1xb850CoDkr

#DidYouKnow that when two massive black holes collided 1.3 billion years ago, the energy released in a fraction of a second was more than 50 times the luminosity all the stars in the universe combined!? This blast was detected in 2015 by researchers LIGO, and marked the observatory's first direct observation of gravitational waves! To learn more about gravitational waves, head to:... https://www.spacecentre.ca/online-resources : Mark Myers, ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav)

Here's today's teaser for "The Top 10 Scary Things in the Universe!" Number 3: "This haunting expanse is darkness unseen. Beware the abyss of galaxies in-between!" Have any guesses? Drop them in the comments below, and find out the answer when Programs Coordinator Michael and our Astronomer Rachel drop a spook-tacular reveal video on Halloween! ... : NASA

Join us TOMORROW for a home learners workshop! Tuesday, November 17th Travel from Earth through our solar system and into the universe beyond our Milky Way galaxy. Learn more about recent scientific discoveries that expand our understanding of the universe.... During this 60-minute live Zoom webinar we will incorporate big ideas and content from British Columbia’s grade 6 and grade 10 science curriculum and is designed for kids 12-16 years old. (All ages are welcome though!) Registration is required and capacity is limited, so don't miss out! Registration Link: http://ow.ly/jd3B50C7JR5

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, November 28th Join us at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre for a planet mechanics workshop! As space exploration continues to advance, the next planned colony will be on the Moon! During this workshop participants will develop a better understanding of the relationship between the Earth, sun and Moon, including Moon phases and tides and of the challenges humans would face living in a lunar environment.... In addition, this experience will include 30 minutes in our Cosmic Courtyard Gallery. This program is recommended for children ages 6 11, however all ages are welcome. Prior registration is required. Tickets available at: http://ow.ly/msUV50CoEuI

Join us TODAY for a special edition of Ask an Astronomer! Thursday, October 29th - 2PM PDT Our host, Michael Unger, will be joined by special guest Johanna Wagstaffe from CBC to talk all about the recent discovery of water on the moon!... Stream Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeL223u4z9o

#QuestionOfTheDay So what DO we know about dark matter? Well, we know that it's... well... dark! Dark matter emits no light; this includes visible, x-ray or infrared. However, we do know that dark matter interacts with visible matter gravitationally. Dark matter is massive enough to cause gravitational effects on on galaxies and galaxy clusters. Image Credit: NASA

Join us TOMORROW for Virtual Cosmic Nights: Dark Matter. Special guest Dr. Tien-Tien Yu will be joining us to talk about her research on Dark Matter. Tickets are still available on Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-cosmic-nights-dark-matt

Here's today's teaser for "The Top 10 Scary Things in the Universe!" Number 4: "After suriving a supernova, this result is to dread. Beware the cosmic rise of the undead!" Have any guesses? Drop them in the comments below, and find out the answer when Programs Coordinator Michael and our Astronomer Rachel drop a spook-tacular reveal video on Halloween! ... : NASA

#QuestionOfTheDay Why is dark matter known as the "glue" that holds galaxies together? In the 1930s, astronomers observed galaxy clusters that were spinning so fast that (with our previous knowledge of mass and gravity) galaxies should have been flying all over the place! A big piece of the puzzle was missing, something beyond the forces of normal matter was holding these galaxies together. That anomaly began a deep-dive into what we now know as dark matter! Image Credit: NASA

#QuestionOfTheDay Are dark matter and antimatter the same thing? Antimatter features a unique quality that distinguishes itself from dark matter. When antimatter annihilates with normal matter, unique gamma rays are produced. This phenomenon does not occur when normal matter interacts with dark matter. Fun Fact: Dark matter appears to be the "glue" that hold's galaxies together with normal matter! Image Credit: NASA

What does a walk in the woods have to do with dark matter? This month for our Space Centre at Home theme we will explore matter that isn’t visible in the electromagnetic spectrum. Check out the article and list of activities to learn more! https://www.spacecentre.ca/dark-matter

#QuestionOfTheDay So... what IS dark matter? The short answer... we don't know! However, this question excites scientists and there are some leading theories as to what makes up dark matter. The most common view on the subject, is that dark matter is made up of exotic particles like axions or weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS). Image Credit: NASA

Here's today's teaser for "The Top 10 Scary Things in the Universe!" Number 5: "This gruesome event involves our own Milky Way. With Andromeda en-route it'll be here to stay. We're sure your'e dying to see what's inside... it's what happens when two galaxies collide!" Have any guesses? Drop them in the comments below, and find out the answer when Programs Coordinator Michael and our Astronomer Rachel drop a spook-tacular reveal video on Halloween! ... : NASA

What are some skywatching highlights in October 2020? Not one, but two, full moons; Mars at opposition; and finding the Andromeda galaxy.

#DidYouKnow that earlier this year, the Hubble Space Telescope helped to confirm a fundamental prediction about dark matter? Using a new observing technique, Hubble helped confirm part of the "cold dark matter" theory, which states that dark matter is made of slow-moving or "cold" particles that come together to form structures. We know that clumps of dark matter can accumulate to masses thousands of times bigger than the Milky Way Galaxy, and thanks to new data from Hubble, we know dark matter can create clumps as small as an airplane Image Credit: NASA

Nobel physics prize awarded to 3 scientists for discoveries relating to black holes.

This Halloween, take a tour of some of the most terrifying and mind-blowing destinations in our galaxy ... and beyond. After a visit to these nightmare worlds, you may never want to leave Earth again! You can also download our six free posters based on real NASA science if you dare. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/galaxy-of-horrors/

#DidYouKnow that only 5% of the universe is made up of normal matter? It has been estimated that roughly 68% of the universe if made of dark energy, and the final 27% is dark matter! In this photo of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 520, the blue areas highlight high concentrations of mass, which is mostly dark matter! Image Credit: NASA

Newly detected sources of lunar water could prove important to future astronaut and robotic missions.

Today we continue a series highlighting the 13 Moon Calendar of the WSÁNE (or Saanich) People. The WSÁNE are a local indigenous nation that created a calendar around culturally significant events in relation to 13 unique moons. This cycle takes place annually across the four seasons. The month of October marks the PEKELANEW Moon- The Moon that Turns the Leaves White. This moon represents the changing of the season and the first frost. The WSÁNE People began splitting ce...dar logs that had been collected in the spring to turn into canoes. These logs were often roughed-out in shape in the forest to make them easier to carry back to the villages. To learn more about the 13 Moons of the WSÁNE, head to https://bit.ly/2ZUCc6R WSÁNE Leadership Council https://www.racerocks.ca/wp-cont/uploads//06/pekelanew.jpg

CALLING ALL EDUCATORS! We’ve re-developed our popular school programs to bring you the best of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre directly to you and your students through new interactive online learning. Our blended learning programs provide your students with structure to explore ideas with their classmates, and to experience our programming through an interactive online experience with our educators. For more information, visit spacecentre.ca/online-programming

Here's today's teaser for "The Top 10 Scary Things in the Universe!" Number 6: "When pointed at Earth it could end life as we know it. From thousands of lightyears away, the destruction will show it!" Have any guesses? Drop them in the comments below, and find out the answer when Programs Coordinator Michael and our Astronomer Rachel drop a spook-tacular reveal video on Halloween! ... : NASA

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, October 15 Join the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre for another virtual astronomy event, for adults! Virtual Cosmic Nights: Dark Matter edition will feature talks, shows, and a craft that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Our host Michael Unger will be joined by our astronomer Rachel Wang, and Dr. Tien-Tien Yu, from the University of Oregon, who specializes in studying and researching Dark Matter. By tuning in live you’ll have an opportun...ity to ask questions and join the discussion. So grab your favourite beverage and tune in as we celebrate the mysteries of Dark Matter. Register Today: http://ow.ly/8Cx750BHbPN

SAVE THE DATE: Wenesday, October 28th Join us for an online home learners event designed for kids 5-8 years old. (All ages are welcome though!) Did you know that the Earth is tilted? Ever wonder if animals are affected by this rotation or if other planets have seasons just like the Earth? Would Mars be a good place to take a snowboard on your next winter holiday?... During this 45-minute live Zoom webinar we will investigate the movement of the Sun, Earth and Moon as they dance around each other in the sky, and learn how their orbits and rotations affect the seasons. The webinar will incorporate big ideas and content from British Columbia’s grade 1 science curriculum. Registration is required and capacity is limited, so don't miss out! Registration link: http://ow.ly/q4xz50C1jLw

Here's today's teaser for "The Top 10 Scary Things in the Universe!" Number 7: "Be sure to stay clear if you see this dark formation, or run the risk of SPAGHETTIFICATION!" Have any guesses? Drop them in the comments below, and find out the answer when Programs Coordinator Michael and our Astronomer Rachel drop a spook-tacular reveal video on Halloween! ... : NASA

Check out our latest video in a new series we're doing that explores "New Discoveries" in science. Our Astronomer Rachel talks about the discovery of three new subglacial lakes underneath Mars' icy south pole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV-Gq0QY5_s&feature=youtu.be

Here's today's teaser for "The Top 10 Scary Things in the Universe!" Number 8: "This high-speed beacon is eerie, we reckon: spinning at 716 times per second!" Have any guesses? Drop them in the comments below, and find out the answer when Programs Coordinator Michael and our Astronomer Rachel drop a spook-tacular reveal video on Halloween! ... : NASA

Looking for a safe and out-of-this-world way to spend halloween? Join us at the Sapce Centre! Interested in learning more about robots and how code is used to control their movements? In this introduction to computer coding workshop participants will use colour and block coding to direct tiny Ozobot robots through a series of Mars related challenges. We will also explore how the Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter will be used in upcoming missions to Mars. Feel fre...e to come dressed as your favourite robot, martian or space traveller. After all, it's Halloween! This program is recommended for children ages 7 12 (all ages are welcome though!) Children must be accompanied by adults. Adults are encouraged to participate in the workshop with their children. Prior registration is required. Tickets are going fast! Registration Link: http://ow.ly/gCFC50C1kg3

Join us for an Ask an Astronomer live stream TOMORROW! Thursday, October 1st | 2PM PDT This time, astronomer Rachel Wang will be talking all about new discoveries! ... To watch our livestream, visit: http://ow.ly/LX2150BBLd2