Start planning those fun, fall learning adventures in Edmonton. The Observatory at University of Alberta will be hosting  public observing sessions on Thursdays throughout the season.

While you visit, you can view the scale model of the Solar system that hangs in the CCIS West Atrium. The model depicts the location of the planets on September 23, 2008, the 100-year anniversary of the University of Alberta. The plane of the solar system is vertical. Try to imagine the planets moving in orbits over and under the Sun.

Public Hours at University of Alberta Department of Physics Astronomical Observatory

Solar Observing
12 pm to 1 pm
Visitors may drop in anytime during this hour. No tickets required. Admission is free.

Night Sky Observing
8 to 9 pm September and October and 7 to 8 pm November to December
Visitors may drop in anytime during the hour. No tickets required. Admission is free.

The Department of Physics Astronomical Observatory is located in CCIS 5-240 on the West end of the 5th floor of the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science on the main campus of the University of Alberta.

Know Before You Go: Astronomical Observatory

• The telescopes are outside, and the domes are not heated. So wear warm clothes since it can get very cold!

• There is an excellent collection of meteorites in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department. For more information, visit the Meteorite Collection webpage.

• You don't need to know anything. We have volunteers who will show you how to look through the telescopes.

• In the case of inclement weather, closures will be announced on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Visit the Department of Physical Astronomical Observatory at University of Alberta