HAA Skywatch

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology are holding a full day symposium about the Transit of Venus which may be of interest to HAA members and those with some astronomy background. It appears to be a fairly comprehensive program, it doesn't seem particularly well suited to someone completely new to astronomy. (However review the program at the link below and see if this will be a good fit for you.) This is a FREE event running on Saturday April 28, 2012 from 10am to 5pm (with breaks).

Doctors Mike Reid, Ralph Chou, James Graham and others will be discussing various aspects associated with the transit. It includes how to view safely, historical events, science learned from transits, how it affects current exo-planet searches and more. It will also include a tour of astronomical instruments on display at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.

More information, including location and a full schedule of seminars and events can be found:
Transit of Venus Symposium

The University of Toronto and the Dunlap Institute are sponsoring a FREE public talk on Thursday March 15, 2012 from 7pm to about 9pm.

Prof Victoria Kaspi from McGill will introduce pulsars, and show how astronomers are using them to study topics which range from the origins of the Universe to the very nature of matter.

University of Toronto - Earth Sciences Centre - Room 1050 (auditorium)
5 Bancroft Ave (near Spadina and College)
More info can be found at:
http://universe.utoronto.ca/special/hsh2012