Secondary Program

Use our programming to help your students explore some of the big questions about our universe. Choose from a number of programs to meet your students' needs and interests.

Planetarium shows (45 min)

Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter: Discover more about the dark matter, from the Big Bang, to the theorizing of its existence, to its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider and the role of scientists associated with Vancouver-based TRIUMF in current scientific break-throughs.

One Sky Project: Indigenous Astronomy

This collection of three short films made for the One Sky Project features Indigenous perspectives of astronomy, space, time and navigation that have been inspiring minds for millennia.

Thunderbird: The sky is a powerful tool for measuring time, and for the Diné, or Navajo people, the Thunderbird transcends space and time, revealing the passage of seasons and connecting earth and sky.

Celestial Canoe: A First People of what is now northern Canada, the Innu, watched the slow turn of a canoe in the sky   mirroring the change in seasons on land. This celestial canoe guided them through a particularly challenging part of the year.

Hawaiian Wayfinders: Hear from a Hawaiian navigator as she describes how the sky provides a compass and calendar for the oceanic people whose voyages connected islands throughout the Pacific Ocean.

One Sky Project: Dreams of the Stars

This collection of three short films made for the One Sky Project features Greek, Indian, and Japanese perspectives of astronomy, history and mythology and how different cultures looking up into the night sky see different stories in the stars and new ways to study them.

The Forge of Artemis: In ancient Greece, Orion was a mighty but not particularly popular hunter, but his constellation shines brightly a familiar shape to people around the world. Why did the goddess Artemis immortalize him in the sky?

The Samurai and the Stars: For many, the stars offer solace and comfort. For our Japanese narrator, images in the sky even the colors of the stars bring back memories of music, history, and childhood.

Jai Singhs Dream: Amid the political chaos of 18th-century India, a great ruler brought the order of the skies down to earth. His giant instruments allowed for precise measurements of stars, planets, and the passage of time and his observatories still stand today!

Big Astronomy
People, Places, Discoveries explores three observatories located in Chile, at extreme and remote places. With its high, dry, and dark sites, Chile is one of the best places in the world for observational astronomy. The show gives examples of the multitude of STEM careers needed to keep the great observatories working, giving us new views of the universe and new data for astronomical science! The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer.

Worlds of Ice

Worlds of Ice invites us on a journey to the farthest reaches of the solar system, travelling through the many dimensions of ice—from the territories of the Arctic to a scientific complex nestled under the South Pole. We experience it all immersed in a kaleidoscopic igloo from which we emerge utterly dazzled by the chronicles of an icy wonderland, to which Beatrice Deer, a popular figure of Inuit culture, has lent her unique voice.

Feature planetarium show: Check our feature show to see how it can support your student’s learning. (Note: feature shows are screened for approximately 6 months.)

GroundStation Canada Shows (20 min)

Planet Hunters: Discover more about planet hunting techniques astronomers use and their quest to find signs of life in the Universe.

Cosmic Glue: Hold onto your seats! We'll discuss Newton's and Einstein's perspectives on gravity and how astronomers use gravity to study the universe.

Colour of Fire
Polaris, our North Star, is made mostly of hydrogen. Have you ever wondered how astronomers obtain such detailed information about stars which are so far away? This blazing 20-minute presentation demonstrates the use of spectroscopy and how it applies to astronomy. 

Space is a Dangerous Place

Space has many hazards. From wild temperature swings to speeding micrometeorites, humans have had to face many challenges. Learn about how space is a dangerous place and how scientists, engineers, and astronauts deal with these many risks.

Cosmic Courtyard Exhibit (30 min)

Visit our space-themed, hands-on exhibit. Students can morph into an alien, touch a Moon rock or event try to lift a meteorite.