HR MacMillan Space Centre

Not a night owl? Rather sleep in your own bed? Not Quite an Overnight may be the program for you. During this 3 hour visit, your group will have their own show in the GroundStation Canada theatre, an orientation to the night sky, a hands-on workshop, and an opportunity to look through our ½ metre telescope (weather permitting).

What is the relationship between Earth and the rest of the Universe and how do scientists come to understand these relationships?

Use our programming to help your students explore this question and others as they discover more about extreme environments here on Earth and explore our solar system and beyond our galaxy. Choose from a number of programs to meet your students' needs and interests.

Planetarium show (45 min)

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)

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

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

Rocket Lab: What goes up doesn't necessarily come down. How do rockets get up there in the first place? Students participate in this live demonstration of the basic principles of Newton's Laws of Motion and its use in rocketry.

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.

Hands-on workshop (60 min)

Moon in Motion
How does a better understanding of the Moon help fuel exploration? Students will learn about 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.

Extremophiles: Does life exist beyond our solar system? By applying an understanding of the extremes that life on Earth can endure and the work of scientists searching for exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system) students will develop their own conclusions on whether alien life exists somewhere in the galaxy and what it might look like.

Space Launch Challenge: What do scientists and engineers do make their ideas a reality? They use their knowledge of scientific concepts and rigorous experimentation. In this workshop, students will apply basic concepts of physics to design, prototype and launch a simple rocket. Note: Groups of three students will work together and each group is required to supply their own 2-litre plastic pop bottles. Program has an outside component - rain or shine.

Cosmic Courtyard gallery (30 min)

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