A photo of UVic's telescope

Wednesday Night Open Houses

You say you don't know a red dwarf from a black hole? A giant star from a globular cluster? Here's your chance to discover everything you've wanted to know about the sky. The UVic Observatory Open House program for this academic year has resumed in-person and will continue weekly till April 2022. Given the continued Covid restrictions, we have been advised to follow appropriate health guidelines, which are listed below. Each week, we will have discussions of astronomy headlines, a Q&A session, and viewing through the 0.2m Celestron and the 0.8m DFM telescopes (one of the largest optical telescopes on any Canadian university campus), if sky conditions permit.

Health guidelines for attending the UVic Open House

1. Do a daily health self-assessment. 
2. If you have any symptoms from the daily health self-assessment, please stay at home and consult your physician.
3. At the open house entrance, present your proof of vaccination and a photo ID (Government photo ID or UVic One Card accepted)
4. Wear a mask in all indoor spaces
5. Avoid crowding indoors/ at the telescopes
6. No food or drinks are permitted. For drinking water, bring your water bottle and step outside (on the open roof) to drink.
7. These UVic stipulated guidelines will apply till further notice from the UVic Occupational Health and Safety office following the BC Public Health Officer orders.

Please check the following links for further info
UVic Communicable Disease Plan:
https://www.uvic.ca/ohse/returntocampus/communicable-disease-plan/index.php
Proof of Vaccination UVic
https://www.uvic.ca/return-to-campus/health-safety/vaccinations/index.php#ipn-proof-of-vaccination
Vaccination Check at CARSA
https://vikesrec.ca/sports/2021/9/10/vaccination.aspx​

When: Wednesdays

  • 7:30-9:30 p.m. September-April (except for the last two weeks of December)
  • 8:30-10:30 p.m. May-August

Where: 5th floor Bob Wright Centre

For further information, please contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy at 250-721-7700.

Special Events

When eclipses, comets, transits or other special events happen in the sky, we love to invite the community to come and experience them with us!  No special events are planned right now, but we'll post the details here when the next one happens.