Beginner's Activites
If you are new to the hobby and would like to learn more about how to observe or image the night sky, then these presentations or activities are for you: Telescope Fundamentals Workshop, GOTO German Equatorial Mounts: Versatility and Performance, Eyepiece Selection Workshop, Is CCD Imaging for You?, Polar Alignment Workshop, The Music of the Night, Good Times for Gearheads, "Sunspot" Solar Observing, and The Sky Tour.
Observing Sessions
Bring your telescope and binoculars, and join us for our evening observing sessions.
The Sky Tour
If you feel like you are "lost in space" under the night sky, the Sky Tour may help you. Between 10:00 p.m. and midnight on Friday and Saturday, Ken Davy, Tony Ward, and other experienced observers will give a tour of the night sky, using various types of telescopes. The Sky Tour will be conducted in the field just west of the main tent.
"Sunspot" Solar Observing Session
Join us for a solar viewing session on Friday 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. next to the Baseball Field. A variety of telescopes and filters will be used to observe the sun.
Swap Table
Participants will have the opportunity to buy, sell or trade astronomical articles on Saturday, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The swap tables will be located south of the Food Booth. These tables are not for commercial sales. Individuals will be responsible for their own property at the tables.
Kidfest
KIDFEST is a special program for younger astronomers. The Kidfest Crew this year explores the Universe in Motion with our young astronomers. From 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday in the Small Tent there will be three presentations (10 - 15 minutes in length). We will look into the movement of astronomical bodies. As usual a craft will follow each of the presentations.
Kidfest Presentations
10:00 AM - Round, Round We Go
Join Diane and Brian for a lively discussion of the earth's movement: its orbit around the sun and its revolution on its axis; and how this motion creates our days, nights, and seasons of the year. [Recommended for the truly younger astronomers - ages 3-6.]
10:30 AM - Merry Go Round - Is our galaxy spinning out of control?
No it's not, but it is spinning. Learn all about the motion in our galaxy from Mercedes. [Recommended to astronomers age 7-9]
11:00 AM - REDSHIFT
Alexi will talk about Relative Motion in the universe. Where is everyone going and how fast? A bit of the big bang and other theories that gets us moving in the morning. [Recommended for all astronomers age 9+]
Parent or Guardian attendance is mandatory up to the age of 9, and recommended for ages 10 and up.
ASTRO-RAP
On Thursday night, you are invited to join us in the Main Tent to talk about astrophotography and astronomy in general. Bring your images and share your experiences with others.
Perseid Meteor Watch
The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of Sunday August 12. To enable Starfest participants to observe the Perseids from a dark country sky we have extended Starfest by a day. While there are no planned activities during the day on Sunday, the park lights will be turned off at night.
Friday Night at the Movies
On Friday night at 7:00 p.m. a movie with an astronomical theme will be shown in the Small Tent.
Celestrivia
If it's cloudy on Friday or Saturday night, the CELESTRIVIA challenge will be held in the Main Tent after the evening program. In this test of astronomical knowledge, teams will be competing for valuable prizes. To participate in this event make up a team of four people, give your team a name and be prepared to answer astronomical questions in the following categories: Constellation Lore, Famous Astronomers, Star Names, Solar System, Telescopes Big and Small, The Messier Objects, Astrophysics 101, Music of the Spheres, Identify the Photo and Grab Bag. The team with the most correct answers wins.
Door Prize Draw Rules
On Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. the door prize draw will be held in the Main Tent. Thousands of dollars of astronomical merchandise, provided by the astronomical retailers and manufactures participating in Starfest, will be given away. You must claim your prize at the time your name is drawn. If you are not present when your name is drawn, another name will be drawn until the prize is given away. Your name is automatically entered into the draw if you paid a registration fee as follows: One draw ticket per individual registration, two draw tickets for each family registration, and one draw ticket for each youth registration.
Starfest Merchandise
A limited quantity of Starfest T-shirts, Sweatshirts, baseball caps, toques and pins will be available. To avoid disappointment, order your promotional items with your pre-registration.
Get into the Club
Astronomy is a community activity. The North York Astronomical Association is an organized group of amateur astronomers who enjoy observing, astrophotography and many other astronomy related activities. To satisfy the needs and interests of our members the club maintains two observing sites, and holds monthly meetings and observing sessions. Membership in the NYAA is open to all. Membership: $40 individual, $45 family. In addition, there is a $20 site access fee which allows unlimited access to our two observing sites, one near Schomberg (approx. 45 mins. West of Toronto) and the other at Oak Heights (1 hour east of Toronto).
Starfest Coordinates
Longitude: 80° 50' 27" W, Latitude: 44° 04' 28" N, Elevation: 400 metres.
Starfest 2008
Starfest 2008 will be held August 7 - 10, 2008.
