The Earthshine Astronomy and Space Science Organization is raising funds to bring a planetarium to Mississauga. This will be a place for families to explore the universe together.

A planetarium is a theatre that recreates the night sky. In it, you can see the sky from any place on Earth, at any time—in the past and in the future—and accurately chart the positions of the stars, Sun, Moon, and planets. It is a powerful teaching tool and a place to celebrate our heritage. After all, every culture has a tradition of star stories! A planetarium is an indoor theatre, so it can be used day or night, no matter what the weather conditions.

Earthshine’s immediate goal is to buy a portable planetarium but house it in a permanent location, a location that is easily accessible for school groups and families alike. Once we have demonstrated the need for such a facility, we will start plans to build a permanent facility with a larger dome, increased seating capacity, and generally more room.

Planetarium technology has changed in the past 20 years. Planetariums used to be limited to showing just a representation of the night sky. Today, modern planetariums can take us on virtual trips to the different planets, out of the solar system to interstellar space, and even out of the Milky Way galaxy. Modern digital computer technology allows the planetarium operator to present live shows, customized shows, and shows created by production companies. And the shows are not limited to astronomy; planetariums can present any kind of programming on various topics. Imagine exploring a DNA molecule or a human cell.

Here are some of the shows that we plan for the Mississauga Planetarium:

Topical

the Sun's effect on climate change
what is visible in the Mississauga sky at various times of the year
current topics of astronomy in the news; for example, Comet ISON, which could be a rather bright comet, will be visible from Mississauga in early December
astronomical events such as eclipses and meteor showers, as well as new discoveries and events—planets discovered around other stars, water on Mars, and the spacecraft New Horizons, which will reach Pluto in 2015
UFO's - fact or fiction
does Astrology really work
is there Life on Mars or elsewhere in the solar system?
when will the next big asteroid hit the Earth?

Cultural

see how Persia and Arabia gave us the science of Astronomy
see how China preserved incredibly accurate observations of the stars to give us our historic perspectives on space
see the 10 astronomical observations that change the way we see the Universe

Educational

programs covering all aspects of the Ontario Science & Technology curriculum for school groups
programs covering astronomy and space exploration badge requirements for Girl Guides, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, and Pathfinder groups
programs on the history of astronomy and space exploration in Canada
family astronomy evenings, including a planetarium program and observing the night sky with telescopes
weekend science and astronomy clubs for young people
science day camps featuring science experiments
high school science sessions for students pursuing science and technology careers
introductory astronomy study groups for young people interested in learning about astronomy and space exploration
introductory courses on astrophotography

There is another important role for a science education facility in Mississauga: inspiring young people to enter careers in science and technology. Fewer students are taking science courses in high school. The education organization Let’s Talk Science released a report on October 8 that stated that fewer students are leaving secondary schools with a balance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses. The result is that, once they enter the workforce, they are unable to follow their desired career path.

The report states that, “Science and technology are increasingly important to Canada’s economic well-being and quality of life. A critical element for our long-term success—as individuals and as a country—is learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).”

Whatever the cause, there is a need to stimulate the interest in these subjects in young people. One way is providing a local science education and public outreach facility such as the one we propose.

As the sixth largest city in Canada, Mississauga is part of an area of over 2 million people (Peel, Halton, western Toronto). Travel to Toronto science facilities (the Royal Ontario Museum and the new aquarium downtown, and the Science Centre in the east end) requires long drives in heavy traffic. We need a local public science facility here in Mississauga.

Help bring a planetarium to Mississauga by donating to Earthshine! To donate go to this website.

Thank you!