Astronomy

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It was one of the largest astronomy outreach events ever – attracting more than 5000 spectators to the Varsity Stadium at the University of Toronto, eager to watch the transit of Venus.

Held one year ago, the massive gathering allowed members of the public to witness the transit through solar-viewing glasses, telescopes and live on the stadium Jumbotron.

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An international team of astronomers and an exotic pair of binary stars have proved that Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity is still right, even in the most extreme conditions tested yet.

The results of their research are described in the April 26 issue of Science.

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Stars 10 times as massive as the Sun, or more, should not exist: as they grow, they tend to push away the gas they feed on, starving their own growth.

Scientists have been struggling to figure out how some stars overcome this hurdle.

Now, a group of researchers led by two astronomers at the University of Toronto suggests that baby stars may grow to great mass if they happen to be born within a corral of older stars –with these surrounding stars favorably arranged to confine and feed gas to the younger ones in their midst.

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It's a glimpse into the world of scientists who study the stars, analyze the interaction of matter and radiated energy, and search for extra-terrestrial life.

On March 22, 2013, a team of graduate students in the Master of Museum Studies (MMSt) program at the University of Toronto will unveil their public exhibit showcasing the development of astronomical instrumentation at the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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The smallest astronomical satellite ever built  launched Feb. 25, 2013 as part of a mission to prove that even a very small telescope can push the boundaries of astronomy.

The satellite was designed and assembled at the Space Flight Laboratory of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, along with its twin, also designed in Canada, but assembled in Austria.