Virtual Dark Sky Festival   Aug 20 to 23, 2020

The Virtual Dark Sky Festival​ is a multi-day event organized as an adaptation of the annual Dark Sky Festival typically held in mid-to-late August. The festival aims to provide participants with an opportunity to explore the wonders of the universe we live in and the science that makes it all work.

Unfortunately due to Covid-19 and PHO* enacted restrictions (physical distancing, gathering size, travel..) the organizers have opted for a "virtual or online" adaptation for our 2020 event - or as we are referring to it, a "scaled-down version".

Our plan is to offer afternoon activities, evening presentation sessions, and weather permitting, remote telescope viewing opportunities.

For more Information contact us at:
   info@tawbas.ca     or call   1-867-872-0243​
​​
* Public Health Office
Festival Format

Video & Guest Speaker Presentations
Virtual presentations using Zoom / YouTube broadcast. Our sign-up option will provide access to post-presentation Q&A and open discussion sessions.
 
Online Activities (demonstration and interactive) 
Virtual demonstration via Zoom / YouTube broadcast. Some activities may offer a participatory component where signed-up participants can participate using kits (picked up prior) or using common house-hold items.

Model Rocket Activity
Signed-up participants will pick-up easy to assemble kits to take home and assemble. Assistance in assembly will be provided via Zoom.
he rockets will be launched later that weekend.
* Several conditions apply to participate - see links for details. 

Remote Live Telescope 
Zoom / YouTube broadcast from the Dr. Roberta Bondar Northern Observatory (in Fort Smith) of images using telescopes and cameras. The sessions will be a narrated tour.
2020 VDSF Program Schedule at a Glance  (all time are PM)
 Aug 20 (Thursday)
   2:00 to 3:00       Online activity (to be announced)
   7:30 to 8:30       Online Presentation - Space Probes & Planetary Landers (guest - Univ of Colorado)
   10:30 to 11:30   Remote star and constellation tour of sky
 
Aug 21 (Friday)
   Noon to 1:00       Online STEM demonstration - Circus of Science with Prof Quark
   1:30 to 3:30         Model rocket kit assembly with Zoom support / 1:00 to 5:00:  Drop-off assembled rockets
   7:00 to 8:00         Online Presentation - Fort Smith GoSpace projects (guest - Canadian Space Agency)
   11:00 to 12:30      Remote telescope viewing of celestial objects

Aug 22 (Saturday)
    2:00 to 3:30       Model rocket launches - launch site to be announced
    7:30 to 8:30       Online presentation - How Big is Space
   11:00 to 12:30     Remote telescope viewing of celestial objects
                                   
Aug 23 (Sunday)
   2:00 to 3:00       Online activity - Black Hole Balloons (hosted/presented by NLMCC)
   3:30 to 4:30       Remote solar viewing (Sun) using H-Alpha telescope
   7:30 to 8:30       Online presentation - Our sky this fall and observing from your backyard

​Schedule is subject to change!

Contact Us

Thebacha & Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society
PO Box 1354
Fort Smith, NT   X0E 0P0
Telephone:  1-867-872-0243
Email:  info@tawbas.ca
​Wood Buffalo National Park
PO Box 790
Fort Smith, NT  X0E 0P0
Telephone:   1-867-872-7960
Email:  wbnp.info@pc.gc.ca
From Festivals past

2020 VDSF Sponsors

​Updated:  6 August 2020