- the 2024 Planetarium tour -
Early Bird Pricing Available!
In 2024 we will be visiting communities across Ontario with our incredible Dragon Dome! Join us for an immersive 4K planetarium experience, like nothing you’ve ever seen before! Get your tickets now as we are stopping in your community for one day only!
Choose your location for more information and to buy tickets:
February 3rd - Toronto West
February 24th - Kitchener / Waterloo
March 2nd - Burlington
March 16th - Toronto East
April 20th - Whitby
May 4th - Niagara Falls
June 8th - Guelph
july 6th - ottawa
October 5th - Ottawa
In-Person Planetarium Programs
We’re back with portable planetarium programs in our three giant inflatable domes! In addition to new and amazing content, we’ve got new presenters and show offerings to ensure everyone can enjoy an incredible experience. Contact Us today to book a live planetarium program!
School Programs
Astronomy in Action’s portable planetariums are the best way to take a field trip without paying for transportation, sending home permission forms, or spending your entire budget in one go. All our programs are based on the Ontario science curriculum, use a student centered learning approach, and are guaranteed to generate excitement about science and astronomy. For pricing, availability, and to book your planetarium program, contact us now!
Rocket Ship - Preschool & Kindergarten
The Rocket Ship program from Astronomy in Action is a friendly and welcoming introduction to space. Children use their imagination to spot shapes in the stars, fly around the Moon, and become astronauts as they take a rocket ship ride into outer space!
25-35 minutes
Click here for learning skills and curriculum connections for this program
Constellation - Grades 1, 2, & 3
Astronomy in Action’s program for elementary grades 1-3 is an inquiry-based space mission for young students to experience the night sky in a fun and relaxing environment.
Learn about astronauts aboard the International Space Station, travel through the solar system, and explore constellations! Students actively participate during programs as they learn and can ask all their great questions!
35-45 minutes
solar system - Grades 4, 5, & 6
Astronomy in Action’s middle school programs are the adventure of a lifetime! Students explore the solar system and the unique properties of planets, with an emphasis on Mars and the challenges of spaceflight.
Once the stars come out, students will experience a truly dark night sky unlike anything they’ve seen before, learning how to navigate, find constellations, identify the Milky Way, and encounter black holes! Students participate and are encouraged to drive the program through questions and decision making. There is no limit to what can be explored!
40-50 minutes
Galaxy - Grades 7 & 8
Astronomy in Action’s intermediate program is an exploration of the entire galaxy, and even galaxies beyond! This program is guaranteed to inspire students’ curiosity about space. Students will explore the properties of stars and how they form planets, relating to the birth of our solar system. They will experience the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies up close, visit black holes, and learn to identify objects across the night sky!
By exploring the challenges of space flight from a Canadian perspective, students will understand what it means to be an astronaut and what it takes to travel to Mars and beyond. Questions are encouraged, and student curiosity drives the show!
45-55 minutes
Galaxy Cluster - Grades 9 & 10
Astronomy in Action’s High School program is tailored to support science curriculum with stunning visuals and inquiry based STEM learning. Explore human and robotic spaceflight, properties of the solar system, the life and death of stars, black holes, and the evolution of the universe from the big bang to today.
With an expert astronomer, the deep questions that students ask are answered and discussed, providing valuable insight and encouraging students to dive deep on topics of interest. Our inquiry based approach allows students to express their interests, and with thousands of animations and objects that can be displayed instantly, there are no limits to where they can go!
55-65 minutes
Universe - Grades 11 & 12
Astronomy in Action’s Universe is a program supporting concepts from upper level science courses such as Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Earth & Space Science. This program covers concepts such as star formation and properties, solar system formation and exoplanets, galaxies, the EM spectrum, and cosmology concepts such as dark matter, dark energy, gravitational waves, and the Big Bang.
Topics focus on student interest and curiosity, and students guide the program across the universe through inquiry and decisions.
55-65 minutes
Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada
Astronomy in Action’s programs for Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada teach kids to navigate using the night sky, preparing them for their next outdoor adventure! Programs cover the astronomy badge requirements as well as the new Girls First program, and are tailored to each age group. We take care of everything, meaning leaders can sit back and enjoy the program!
Looking to combine a program with a few different units? Want families to participate? We have space for everyone!
Astronomy in Action Iron-On Badges (10 Pack)
CA$20.00
Complete your space meeting with Astronomy in Action badges! These 2.5” Diameter iron-on emblems feature our rocket logo in white, along with our slogan ‘Space. For Everyone’ overlaid on a nebulous blue background! Order a pack for your unit today!
Quantity:
Our Presenters
Ryan Marciniak
Ryan saw a solar eclipse at age 7, kick-starting his lifelong passion for astronomy. After earning his M.Sc. in astrophysics, he has spent over 12 years travelling across Ontario, performing live science shows, developing interactive exhibits, and reaching hundreds of thousands of people with planetarium programs! Constantly developing new ideas and content for the planetarium, his passion for astronomy and space science is infectious!
Ryan has also appeared as an expert astronomer for media appearances with CBC, CTV, History Channel, 680 News, and many more.
Daniel Lee-Ying
Since he was young, Daniel always had a vivid imagination. Witnessing the Aurora borealis and a nighttime shuttle launch at a young age solidified Daniel’s interest of our night sky.
As a professional Science Communicator for over 20 years and having delivered and developed Planetarium shows for over 18 years, Daniel has brought unforgettable wonder, excitement, and awe to audiences of all ages. Daniel has also appeared as a Science Communicator for media appearances on Global, Rogers, CP24, City TV, Breakfast Television, and many more.
Events and Private Programs
Bring in our inflatable planetarium and let us act as your personal 360 degree theatre. Custom content including logos and welcome messages can be displayed on the dome to personalize your event.
Looking for engaging and educational community programs?
Want to run a customer or staff appreciation event?
Celebrating a milestone?
We’ve helped dozens of clients host professional, fun, and engaging events.
Visitors enter and sit back on our amazing inflated seating ring, placing them at the perfect angle to experience the planetarium content.
Some of our recent clients include:
CIBC
Royal Botanical Gardens
City of Pickering
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Contact us now and make your event truly stellar!
Contact Us
Want more information? Have an idea that we can help you with?
Please Get in touch! We look forward to hearing from you!
Total solar eclipse - April 8th 2024 - Southern Ontario
What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
The Sun and Moon appear to be the same size in the sky, since the Sun is both 400 times farther away than the Moon, and 400 times it’s angular diameter. This coincidence leads to the Moon passing in front of the Sun occasionally (roughly once per year on average).
When this happens, the Moon covers the brightest parts of the Sun and allows the fiery corona of the Sun to be seen, creating a gorgeous natural phenomenon that is only visible for at most 7 minutes.
The challenge to observing such an eclipse is that the shadow of the Moon is small compared to Earth, only about 500 Km wide. This means that to see such an event you need to be in the right place on Earth for those precious 7 minutes. Since most of the Earth is covered with water, this often occurs in the ocean.
Why is April 8th, 2024 such a big deal?
This will be a total solar eclipse that is visible mainly over land, and visible to hundreds of millions of people who can travel within an hour of home. This makes it an accessible event and a big moment for advocates of science and nature, wanting to share this with everyone.
Can I see it?
It does depend on where you live, but for southern Ontario, you need to be close to the great lakes Ontario or Erie. The best spot in Canada to watch the eclipse will be in the Niagara Falls region, as it is far enough south to see the totality for a reasonable amount of time. Check out this eclipse map to see where you need to be.
For more detailed information on viewing locations, go to https://eclipse2024.org/
How do I view it?
Eclipses like this can be damaging to your eyes, as you are looking directly at the Sun, and even a sliver of the Sun’s disk can cause permanent and severe eye damage. Regular sunglasses will not help, and do not protect against the intense rays of the Sun.
If you are viewing the eclipse in totality, you can observe it safely for a few seconds at a time, but otherwise you will need proper equipment such as eclipse glasses or a specialized telescope.
Careers @ Astronomy in Action
Want to explore the universe and share its secrets with others? Have a passion for education and science? Like to meet new people? Join our growing team!