Ontario Astronomy Tours.
Guided small-group stargazing tours at dark-sky sites using a 12-inch Dobsonian telescope near Waterloo.
The brief.
Ontario Astronomy Tours is run by Michael Wright, an amateur astronomer active since 1989 who has served the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Kitchener-Waterloo Centre as Outreach Coordinator, Treasurer and President. He leads small-group night-sky tours (five people or fewer) using a 300mm f/4.9 Skywatcher Flextube 300p Dobsonian telescope, combining naked-eye, binocular and telescope observing of the moon, planets, comets, star clusters, nebulas and galaxies. Tours run from three dark-sky sites near Milverton, Shelburne and Howdenvale, Ontario, with other locations arranged at additional cost. All tours are weather-dependent, and participants receive a follow-up document listing the objects viewed along with photos taken at the telescope.
4. ways in.
- 01
Night Sky Highlights
For: Small groups of five or fewerA roughly three-hour tour through handpicked seasonal targets, sampling the moon, planets, comets, star clusters, nebulas and galaxies visible that night through a large amateur telescope.
$300
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Observing Basics
For: Beginners learning to use their own equipmentA 1.5-hour-plus session on using binoculars and manual telescopes, covering aligning a finder scope, collimation, equatorial mounts, star charts and locating the moon, planets and deep-sky objects.
$150-$300
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Lunar Wonders
For: All experience levelsA 1.5-hour evening focused on the moon through a large telescope, with an introduction to lunar natural history and a tour of craters, maria and ranges visible that night. Can be done within the city.
$150
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Custom Tours
For: Experienced observersA tailored tour for those with prior observing experience who want more challenging targets, or who wish to focus on a specific category such as planets, comets, meteor showers or galaxies.
$300+
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Worth knowing.
- 01Guide Michael Wright has been an active amateur astronomer since 1989 and has served as Outreach Coordinator, Treasurer and President of the RASC Kitchener-Waterloo Centre.Source ↗
- 02Tours use a 300mm f/4.9 Skywatcher Flextube 300p (12-inch) Dobsonian telescope and combine naked-eye, binocular and telescope observing.Source ↗
- 03Tours run from three dark-sky sites near Milverton, Shelburne and Howdenvale, Ontario; other locations can be arranged at additional cost.Source ↗
- 04Tours are best for small groups of five people or fewer, are weather-dependent, and payment is by cash or e-Transfer before the tour.Source ↗
Outside the door.
26° with 12 km/h wind. Go enjoy it.
Get in
touch.
- Website
- ontarioastronomytours.ca
- Phone
- (647) 228-2516
- Address
- 534 Red River Drive, Waterloo, ON N2T 2B7