Words & Photos Stephanie Staples
So you thought you were the centre of the universe? Well, I can’t say if that’s true, but I can tell you for certain that you can easily be AT the Centre of the Universe!
Perched on the tippy-top of Little Saanichton Mountain, you’ve surely seen its unmistakable dome from afar.
If you haven’t yet made the two-kilometre drive uphill, know that it is worth your time, as you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of our fine Peninsula! I had to give a thumbs up to the gentlemen who was riding his “me-bike” (as opposed to his e-bike!) up the 200+ metre (700+ foot) incline.
Once atop this National Historic Site (built over 100 years ago, with a nod to the visionaries who designed it and horses who pulled up the supplies) you can’t help but understand why Victoria is the astrological hub of Western Canada. This jaw-dropping, in-high-demand telescope is one of the most important and iconic in Canadian astronomy history. Even if astronomy isn’t your passion, by spending time with some of the experts in the field you will likely catch a little of their enthusiasm and for sure be impressed that there are such smart people out there researching the unreachable.
Make sure you take in all that the Observatory offers: the ever-changing gallery, with interactive exhibits and oodles of information for star-gazing aficionados; the theatre, which hosts many guest lecturers and movies; the 100+ year old to-scale model of the Observatory; and of course the Sun Dome Planetarium. While their Planetarium may be tiny, holding around 20 adults, the knowledgeable tour guides use the exact same software as the full-size planetariums do so you can still get a spectacular show.
Fully accessible, everyone can tour both the building and the Observatory that houses the Plaskett Telescope, and you should – it’s really a feat of incredible engineering, especially when you learn how many of the original parts are still being used. Yes, it’s completely digitalized now, but the retractable roof just boggles my mind.
In addition to going for a tour, be sure to sign up for the ever-popular Star Parties, which are no longer limited to summer evenings. Because they happen earlier in the non-summer months with the shorter days, you can even take your little ones and have them home in time for bed.
The Star Parties are very popular, and even with 200 spots, they sell out quickly; you must plan your visit and pre-register to ensure you secure a spot (or three!). While they do run rain or shine, order a clear night for the full experience where they open the dome – it caused audible gasps from the impressed crowd the night we were there. The also have a guest lecturer on Star Party nights – the night we went the talk was by a PhD candidate explaining the “basics” of Quantum Physics. The packed room was so engaged and asked brilliant questions, but truth be told, my bestie and I couldn’t even understand the basics. We did appreciate that the future is in the hands of some really bright people and were thankful that there wasn’t a test at the end! In addition to the Plaskett Telescope, you will see volunteers with abnormally large (as big as me) telescopes perched steadily and pointed purposefully at the moon or stars, and it was cool to have an opportunity to look through them and be educated on what’s in the night sky.
Despite the fact that the sign at the gated entrance looks very “Government of Canada-ishy” the Centre of the Universe (operating as Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory) is actually the not-for-profit arm that keeps it ticking. This means that admission dollars subsidize the school programs, camps and other educational events that happen there as well as keeping the building up to date.
You can (and should!) find out more about this “star” of the Peninsula at www.centreoftheuniverse.org.
