York University Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by York University. It is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1969, York's observatory is opened to both researchers and amateur astronomers.
The observatory owns two telescopes housed in separate domes: a 40 cm (16 in) Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope made by Meade Instruments, and a 60 cm (24 in) Cassegrain reflector. Other smaller portable telescopes are available for visitor use. Telescopes 1 and 2 are located at the main building at Petrie, and the remainder at Arboretum Observing Facility on the roof of the Arboretum Parking Garage.
The observatory is open to the public every Wednesday evening, and also hosts public viewing sessions for special events, such as Astronomy Day in 2006, Earth Hour and Science Rendezvous in 2008. There is no admission cost to visit the observatory.
Like David Dunlap Observatory, York's location is subject to nearby light pollution. York is located away from residential neighbourhoods, but it is still subject to lights on campus and the surrounding business at the Keele location. Unlike the University of Toronto, York does not own an operate alternate observatory in Canada or abroad.
Read more about York University Observatory: Gallery
Famous quotes containing the words york, university and/or observatory:
“Affection, indulgence, and humor alike are powerless against the instinct of children to rebel. It is essential to their minds and their wills as exercise is to their bodies. If they have no reasons, they will invent them, like nations bound on war. It is hard to imagine families limp enough always to be at peace. Wherever there is character there will be conflict. The best that children and parents can hope for is that the wounds of their conflict may not be too deep or too lasting.”
—New York State Division of Youth Newsletter (20th century)
“The information links are like nerves that pervade and help to animate the human organism. The sensors and monitors are analogous to the human senses that put us in touch with the world. Data bases correspond to memory; the information processors perform the function of human reasoning and comprehension. Once the postmodern infrastructure is reasonably integrated, it will greatly exceed human intelligence in reach, acuity, capacity, and precision.”
—Albert Borgman, U.S. educator, author. Crossing the Postmodern Divide, ch. 4, University of Chicago Press (1992)
“Where there is an observatory and a telescope, we expect that any eyes will see new worlds at once.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)