This spring, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory (AICO) is drawing record crowds – not just from students, but from across Toronto’s astronomy community.
The reason isn’t a rare celestial event, but a new partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Toronto Centre (RASCTO). For the first time, the observatory’s powerful one-metre telescope is open to RASC members and the public, marking a shift in how the University shares the night sky.
“We’re seeing new faces and new energy,” says observatory director Elaina Hyde, an associate professor in the Faculty of Science who notes that RASC members are now applying for telescope time and joining York-led public observing sessions at Downsview Park. The partnership, she says, is changing the atmosphere at York U – making astronomy more open and the conversations more lively.
The shift is especially apparent during York’s Recreational Astronomy Nights, a monthly event typically held on the first Wednesday of each month. Hosted in collaboration with RASC Toronto Centre, these sessions invite everyone – students, amateur astronomers and those who are simply curious – to gather in person or online for presentations, tutorials and hands-on demonstrations.
“Having the Recreational Astronomy Nights at York gives students an opportunity to meet RASC members who can communicate their enthusiasm for astronomy,” says Ralph Chou, executive officer for RASC Toronto Centre. He sees these monthly gatherings as “a form of citizen science that complements what the students are learning about in their classes.”
Once a niche campus event, Recreational Astronomy Night now draws a broader crowd and encourages deeper conversations about the cosmos. The next session, set for May 7, will give the public a chance to experience this new dynamic firsthand, with RASC members and York astronomers sharing projects and tips in Room 317 of the Petrie Science Building, as well as online. After the meeting, visitors can join weekly public stargazing in York’s Arboretum – another example of how the partnership is making astronomy more accessible.
This approach reflects a broader trend in Canadian science outreach: making research infrastructure available to the public, even in urban environments where light pollution is a constant adversary. York’s advanced telescopes offer a rare, hands-on look at the night sky.
“The observatory’s facilities give the public a hands-on experience of looking at celestial objects with state-of-the-art equipment,” Chou says. “Even in the city, you can still make useful observations.”
That spirit of openness will be on full display at the York AICO Open Air Astro Fair, planned for the first clear night between June 24 and July 4. Running from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Keele Campus, the fair will feature solar observing, night sky viewing, planetarium shows, interactive booths and activities for all ages. RASC Toronto Centre will be on hand with telescopes for both solar and nighttime viewing, while York’s own astronomers will lead workshops and demonstrations throughout the evening.
As with any stargazing event, success will depend on the cooperation of the weather – a perennial challenge for astronomers in Toronto. For now, Hyde and Chou are watching the forecast – and the growing crowds – as York’s astronomy community looks upward.