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AstroGeo StarLab Planetarium
Tuesday March 11, 10:00am-1:00pm, Markdale Arena Hall
Join us on an all-ages tour of the night sky led by local astronomer Chris Vaughan! He’ll fly you to the moon and other planets, tell you star stories from many cultures, play some immersive planetarium movies, and will answer your space and astronomy questions. Sessions run every 20–30 minutes with limited space available. First come, first served—no reservations needed! Enjoy games and activities while you wait.
Chris Vaughan
Chris Vaughan, aka “AstroGeoGuy”, is an astronomer and Earth scientist with a talent for explaining the cosmos to anyone during his dynamic and fascinating presentations inside his portable planetarium, or while touring guests out under the stars. In 2023 he moved to Collingwood, ON. He is the author of a weekly astronomy blog for non-astronomers, called Astronomy Skylights, which is widely read by subscribers worldwide, and co-author with John A. Read of the book 110 Things to See With a Telescope. He writes a monthly calendar of astro-events for Space.com, and his material is used in the popular astronomy apps SkySafari, Star Walk 2, and Starry Night. Chris’ passion for education and public outreach won him the 2014 Bertram Topham Award for Observing and the 2013 and 2014 Andrew Elvins Awards for Promotion of Astronomy from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Toronto Centre, and the 2022 Simon Newcomb Award for Excellence in Astronomical Writing. In 2018, Chris was awarded the Reach for the Stars Award from the City of Markham, in recognition of his promotion of astronomy and fight against light pollution in Thornhill. Chris is a senior operator of the David Dunlap Observatory’s 74″ (1.88 m) Great Telescope. He has been a speaker at the DDO public programs, presented The Sky This Month at the monthly Recreational Astronomy Night meetings of the RASC Toronto Centre, and assists with operating the club’s Carr Astronomical Observatory near Thornbury. Chris hosted the Insider’s Guide to the Galaxy series on YouTube, and is a regular speaker for Probus, Canadian Federation of University Women, and local libraries.
Waiver
Portable planetaria display the universe in action in an immersive environment. While Chris Vaughan is a highly skilled planetarium operator, any guest who experiences mild dizziness and/or motion sickness during the presentations can ask to temporarily halt the presentation and/or exit the dome. AstroGeo and GHPL shall not be responsible for the discomfort of any guest that elects to remain in the Starlab.