Let’s Celebrate the Sun at the Planétarium! The AstroFest is back with two full days of festivities! All the elements have come together for a huge party in honour of our featured star following this year’s theme: The Sun in All its Splendour. Dozens of free activities from over thirty partners in the field of astronomy await you! Water rockets, arts and crafts, workshops, lectures as well as sun and star gazing, in a musical atmosphere with face painting, popcorn, and cotton candy! The Sun in all its splendour 2024 is a significant year for our Sun. While it certainly attracted attention during the eclipse on April 8, its daily activity continues to fascinate us. At the most dynamic stage of its cycle, its solar storms can dazzle us with their aurora borealis all the way to southern Québec. Then, in the evening, when the Sun has given way to the Moon, all will gather around the telescopes and get busy roasting marshmallows! Programming Saturday, June 15 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kiosks, arts and crafts, astrophotography exhibition, solar observation, etc. It’s going to be an exhilarating day! Activities include: The Eggstronaut by SIRIUS: You have about 20 minutes to create a spaceship that can land your egg safely, with no breakage, after a free fall. Fun for everyone! Build your own rover! Using a simple engine and salvaged materials, design your own unique rover, capable of moving around the surface of a distant planet. The Canadian Space Agency will demonstrate the challenges of lunar exploration missions by comparing sand from Earth with artificial lunar dust. Bibliothèques de Montréal will launch the TD Summer Reading Club, complete with activities and public readings about space. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Two rooms, two atmospheres In the Milky Way Theater, hear Jonathan Gagné, Scientific Advisor at the Planétarium and Associate Professor at Université de Montréal, and Cassandra Bolduc, program scientist, space astronomy at the Canadian Space Agency and solar physics specialist, who will present a fascinating portrait of the Sun and stars in our space neighbourhood. In the Chaos Theater, follow the conference while enjoying a beer, glass of wine or gin, accompanied by selection of cheeses, all courtesy of the Vego bar. Make sure to attend the Urban Science Brass Band concert. 9 p.m. to midnight Hunt for the next eclipse! Relive the April 8 eclipse in 360 degrees, then prepare for your next eclipse hunt with Marc Jobin, eclipse hunter in the Milky Way Theater. Beer under the stars: Admire the work of Québec astrophotographers on the Chaos Theater dome. Outdoors, roast marshmallows while observing the Moon through a telescope. Activity cancelled in the event of rain. Sunday, June 16 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kiosks, crafts, astrophotography exhibition, solar viewing, story time, water rocket launch and more. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Interactive quiz with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk in the Milky Way Theater. Come test your knowledge and find out more about the person who will be the next CSA astronaut to fly to the International Space Station, and the first Canadian astronaut to join NASA's Commercial Manned Mission Program. All AstroFest activities are free. However, standard prices apply for the Planetarium’s regular indoor shows.