The Prince George Astronomical Observatory will be open on Friday, October 3 at 7:30 pm for a public open house event. Malhar’s astronomical talk ‘Eclipsing Binaries’ will start at 7:45 pm and will be followed by observing the night sky with some of the observatory’s telescopes, weather permitting. The evening will cool off so dress appropriately. Please consider a suggested donation of $2/person or $5/family so we can continue to offer public events such as this.

This artist’s impression shows an eclipsing binary star system. As the two stars orbit each other they pass in front of one another and their combined brightness, seen from a distance, decreases. By studying how the light changes, and other properties of the system, astronomers can measure the distances to eclipsing binaries very accurately. A long series of observations of very rare cool eclipsing binaries has now led to the most accurate determination so far of the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighbouring galaxy to the Milky Way and crucial step in the determination of distances across the Universe.

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Prince George Astronomical Observatory

Location: 53 45′ 29″ N 122 50′ 56″ W

Welcome to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Prince George Centre. We are a nonprofit organization, operating and maintaining the observatory with volunteers dedicated to the advancement of astronomy and science in Prince George and the neighbouring Northern Canadian communities.

Please dress warmer than normal as the Observatory is generally -6 Celsius colder than in town.

If you have come to this page looking for the Prince George Astronomical Society, don’t worry! you are at the right place. The PGAS has joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and we now have a new name.

Please take some time and browse our pages to learn what our club is all about. If you have any questions please contact our society president Malhar R. Kendurkar or call us at (250) 617-7192

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