AstroFest 2023

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a rare sight: a prelude to supernova. This image features the star Wolf-Rayet 124 casting off its outer layers, resulting in halos of gas and dust. (Credits: Canadian Space Agency, ESA, NASA, Webb ERO Production Team)

General information

Type: Festival
Date: June 3, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. to midnight ET
Location: Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium
- 4801 Av. Pierre-De Coubertin,
  Montreal, Quebec
  H1V 3V4
  (Google Map)
Languages: French and English
Target audience: General public

Summary

Montreal is celebrating astronomy and the exploration of the Moon with a diverse and exciting daylong event that's sure to put stars in your eyes! The Planetarium is teaming up with several partners to bring you a wide variety of free activities.

Detailed description

The program includes arts and crafts for all age groups, presentations, an astrophotography exhibit, information booths, workshops, a close-up look at the Sun and more. The festivities will continue into the evening with a chance to view the Moon and other heavenly bodies through a telescope.

Schedule overview

Time and descriptions
Time	Description
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.	Small step(s) AstroFest kicks off with a free lineup of activities for mini-astronauts: • Your last opportunity to catch a screening of Bébé symphonique! Screenings at 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. For kids up to 18 months old *Places are limited. Reserve soon! • Find out what's hiding in our own celestial backyard with Aboard the SSE-4801. Screening at 10:45 a.m. For children 5 to 8 Places are limited. Reserve soon!* * Tickets available on May 26.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Orbit or bust! With kiosks, crafts, an astrophotography exhibition, viewing of the Sun and lots more, it's going to be an amazing day! Here are just a few of the activities taking place all day long: The Eggstronaut by SIRIUS: You have about 20 minutes to create a spaceship that can land your egg safely, with no breakage, after a free fall. Fun for everyone! Planetarium water pistol: Build your own water pistol powered by a bicycle pump. Laughter and splashes guaranteed! Making a telescope isn't as simple as you might think. Meet Optiques Fullum, which makes mirrors for telescopes all over the world. Discover the best free astronomy apps and start exploring the night skies with Plateau Astro. Face painting for children from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Demonstrations by the Throw2Catch circus troupe at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.	Reaching for the Moon The evening will begin with a performance by the Urban Science Brass Band with contagious energy! Put your knowledge to the test during a relaxed quiz, drink in hand, comfortably seated in the planetarium theatres. We welcome René DoyonPrincipal Investigator of the Canadian-built elements on the James Webb Space Telescope for an exceptional conference, enhanced by a section on how this telescope reveals the hidden secrets of the cosmos thanks to its infrared eye and its spectroscopic tools, explained by Nathalie N.-Q. Ouellette, communications scientist for the mission in Canada. René Doyon won Radio-Canada's Scientist of the Year award in 2022 and 2008.
9:30 p.m. to midnight	Under the moonlight End the evening with some marshmallows while gazing at the Moon by telescope. In case of rain, our interpreters will explore the sky with you indoors, in our theatres.

Contact

For more information, please visit the Montreal Space for Life website

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Date modified:: 2023-05-26

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