Astronomy Day April 20, 2002

The Saskatchewan Millennium Telescope was officially opened on International Astronomy Day 2002.

The Honourable Maynard Sonntag was there to say a few words on behalf of the project's major sponsor, SaskTel.

Wayne Hellquist from the Saskatchewan Science Centre, announced the winners of the essay writing contest.  The winner would be the first to look through the telescope.

Congratulations to the three winners of the essay contest!

Sunspots on the sun were visible between holes in the clouds.

A few of the Regina Centre members that were on hand for the press release.

The Regina Centre held public viewing nights as part of the Astronomy Day activities.

Inside the Science Centre, the club had lots of great information to hand out to visitors.

A few of the 25 volunteers from the Regina Centre that helped out on Astronomy Day.

Z99 was on location that day to cover the Astronomy Day activities.

Dr. Martin Beech had a wonderful display of Meteorites on hand.

We also had telescopes on display at the IMAX Theatre.

Taking a look for Venus in broad daylight.

The Saskatchewan Millennium Telescope.  A 12" Meade LX-200 with a CCD camera.

The observatory was open to the public for a total of 20 hours over the course of two days.

A much deserved supper for volunteers at Astronomy Day.

We were blessed with clear skies during the evenings.  All tolled, over 750 people came out to visit us on Astronomy Day.  A great success!

Public Viewing Nights at IMAX Theatre  2002

The club decided to set up telescopes in front of the IMAX Theatre during the first quarter moons.

Average attendance was between 50-80 people each night.

No one went away disappointed!

Regina Children's Festival June 16, 2002

Setting up the telescopes in the morning.

Getting ready before the gates opened.

There were thunderstorms during the morning.

Telescopes and rain don't agree with each other.  It never hurts to come prepared.

But the sun came out in the afternoon and we were treated with lots of sunspots.  That day, sunspot #10000 was visible on the surface.

Even Ronald McDonald couldn't resist a look at the sunspots.

Believe it or not, these guys were able to bend down and look through the telescope with their stilts on.  Very impressive!

Canada Day July 1, 2002

We set up the telescopes at Canada Day again this year.  

Visiting with the crowd is always lots of fun.

Pile O' Bones Sunday July 28, 2002

The Regina Centre set up telescopes on the lawn south of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum for Pile O' Bones Sunday.

There is often questions about what is in the eyepiece.

The kids love looking through the telescopes.

Being close to the face painting was great!

Darcy's explaining how the telescope equipment works.

Lots of families turn out for a day at the park.

Darcy showing three budding astronomers sunspots on the sun.

This guy watched the sunspots for quite a while.

Dad's are always willing to help out.

All that was needed to see the sunspots were some special solar glasses because the sunspots were huge that day!

Another great turn out for Pile O' Bones Sunday.

Scott Wilson showing the sun through his 8 inch Celestron.

Saskatchewan Summer Star Party Public Nights August 2002
There were no pictures taken at this event but over the course of two evenings at the star party, we had approximately 300 visitors from the areas around Cypress Hills take a look through the club's telescope.

Sunrise Library Presentations October 2002

The Regina Centre gave two presentations to the general public at the Sunrise Library.  Michael Holzer is seen here talking about astronomical instruments.

The presentations were well attended by people of all ages.

Club members set up their telescopes behind the library under clear skies.  Dozens of people enjoyed the views.

Everyone enjoyed the views of the Hercules cluster in Scott Wilson's 8" Celestron.

Private Tours

The Regina Centre gave tours of the sky to numerous groups during 2002.  Here's of students from the Canadian Bible College enjoying the views under dark skies.