Author Archives: mglover

More Seats Available in Physics 251

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If you tried to register for Physics 251: Introductory Astronomy I back in July but found it was full, despair not! We have enlarged the class size to accommodate the wait list and there are still places available. The course runs in the evenings, Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7:00-8:30 PM with a lab/field observations Thursdays from 8:30-10:00 PM.

In this course, you’ll learn: why the stars, Sun, and Moon appear to move the way they do; how the solar system formed; why the planets move the way they do; why there are different types of planets (and which ones might house life other than Earth!); and how humankind has learned all that we have about our solar system. We’ll learn this using only basic mathematics and try to have fun with the topics.

You can find the calendar description here. If you’re on Twitter, search #phys251 and check out some of the discussion from last year’s course.

UPDATE: August 9th/10th Viewing Cancelled

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UPDATED: The sky is no clearer today than it was yesterday and the clouds don’t look like they’ll be moving out at all tonight, so we have to cancel the for tonight, Sunday, August 10.

Although it’s great that we’re getting some more rain to help our farmers’ dry fields, it’s unfortunate that it had to come on the one weekend we had our viewing scheduled!

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Everyone is welcome to attend public viewings.  To do so, meet in Memorial Hall in room 417 and you will be guided up to the observatory when it is available.  It is necessary to climb the stairs one floor up to the observatory, however the elevator can be taken up to the 4th floor before doing so.

Public viewings are co-hosted by the UPEI Physics Department and the Charlottetown Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).

July 12/13 Viewing — Canceled

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UPDATE July 9th: Due to a couple different factors, we are canceling the viewing set for this weekend.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

The next public viewing is scheduled for Saturday, July 12 from 9:45-11:00PM. If the weather is unsuitable on that date, we will try to re-schedule the viewing on Sunday, July 13 at the same time.

This viewing is scheduled at a later hour and with a shorter duration because the sun is setting quite late as we have recently passed the summer solstice.

Everyone is welcome to attend public viewings.  To do so, meet in Memorial Hall in room 417 and you will be guided up to the observatory when it is available.  It is necessary to climb the stairs one floor up to the observatory, however the elevator can be taken up to the 4th floor before doing so.

Public viewings are co-hosted by the UPEI Physics Department and the Charlottetown Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).

Free (Older) Astronomy Books

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I’ve been doing a bit of an office clear-out and would like to get rid of some of the extra astronomy texts that are taking up shelf space. Some of these books are a few years old, some are relatively new, but all go over the basics of astronomy and often cosmology.

So if you’re interested in learning more about the night sky, our solar system, or other galaxies and beyond, come to the UPEI campus and pick up a book. I’ve piled them up in a stack outside my office, Duffy Science Centre room 415, so you can come by at any time whenever the building is unlocked (i.e. weekdays from very early to very late, sometimes on weekends).

UPDATE: June 15 Viewing Cancelled

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UPDATED: The forecast for the evening of Sunday, June 15 is no better than it was for Saturday evening, so the rescheduled viewing will also have to be cancelled. Hopefully conditions will be better next month in July so our viewing can go ahead then!

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This viewing is scheduled at a later hour and with a shorter duration because, of course, the sun is setting later and later as we approach the summer solstice so we are having fewer hours of darkness suitable for astronomical viewings.

Everyone is welcome to attend public viewings.  To do so, meet in Memorial Hall in room 417 and you will be guided up to the observatory when it is available.  It is necessary to climb the stairs one floor up to the observatory, however the elevator can be taken up to the 4th floor before doing so.

Public viewings are co-hosted by the UPEI Physics Department and the Charlottetown Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).