The Kid's Program is being run by Jennifer Petriew with the assistance of Kim Kulak and Emily Petriew.

Jennifer Petriew is married to Vance Petriew, discoverer of Comet Petriew. Not so coincidentally, her interest in astronomy began shortly after meeting said comet discoverer 20 years ago. Jennifer and Vance have three children, and she looks forward to spending time with the SSSP kids each year to help them have fun learning about astronomy. Emily Petriew is Jennifer's daughter.

Kim Kulak is a wife and mother of a child with Autism and has a Bachelor of Education with a speciality in Early Childhood. She has worked over 20 years in a variety of settings educating and providing programs for young children including those with special needs. After a 3 year hiatus, Kim and family are attending their 9th SSSP and Kim is thrilled to be back volunteering with Jenn at the SSSP Kids Activities.

SSSP Kids... join us on Saturday morning at the Yurt Observatory to play, create and explore the wonders of our universe with other SSSP kids! We will do some crafts, play and pretend, and maybe even learn a thing or two about astronomy! I'm looking forward to having some fun with you all!!! Parents are welcome to stay and help out the very young astronomers.

This year we'll be learning about some interesting night sky objects, some ways that pictures are taken of these amazing objects and will get a chance to create a space craft to help us take pictures of spectacular things in space! (Okay, not a real space craft, but we can pretend!).

There are a limited number of places for the banquet. They will be allocated on a "first registered, first allocated" basis. We strongly suggest that you preorder your tickets when you register. A small number of places will be held for at-the-door registrations but only if the room limit has not yet been exceeded. We also ask you, if you find that you are not able to come to the banquet but have preordered tickets, to contact us immediately by phoning 306-280-1899. We will refund your banquet ticket costs and will allocate your tickets to people on our waiting list. If you do not contact us beforehand and you do not show up, your banquet ticket costs will NOT be refunded. See "Refund Policy" for more information.

Menu:

• Roast Turkey with Sage Dressing and Gravy
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Garden, Pasta and Spinach Strawberry Salads
• Seasonal Select Vegetables
• Chef's Dessert Creations

If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact the star party organizers by e-mail or phone.

Fr. Lucian Kemble Memorial Lecture (Saturday, 15:00 Wapiti Room)

"Astronomy – An Exciting Introduction to Science"

Dr. Michael A. Earl, Department Of Physics and Engineering Physics, University Of Saskatchewan

Abstract

Astronomy is exciting to everyone. Children are especially curious about the night sky, as they ponder their place within the universe we all inhabit. Through the small telescope, people of all ages and experiences can access many of the original celestial objects that Copernicus, Brahe, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Messier, Herschel, and Hubble had observed. As an added bonus, they can also learn about and experiment with the many scientific concepts that are just as powerful today as they were when they were first developed. This talk discusses how astronomy can be used to enthusiastically introduce the young to the basic scientific concepts that defined our modern technological age and how our society can benefit from a new generation of dedicated and enthusiastic young scientists who use facts and evidence to understand their natural world.

Biography

Dr. Michael Earl has been an enthusiastic astronomer for over 30 years. He has used smallaperture telescopes to explore the heavens and to show and teach others about the wondrous treasures that populate our universe. Dr. Earl designed, tested and operated Canada’s first remotely controlled and automated optical satellite tracking facility for the Department of National Defence at the Royal Military College of Canada from 1997 to 2001.

Dr. Earl is a lifetime member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He served as the Ottawa centre’s Meeting Chair from 2002 to 2004, its Vice President from 2004 to 2005, and its Webmaster from 2005 to 2007. Throughout that time, he promoted astronomy and scientific endeavours both within the RASC and throughout North America.

Dr. Earl obtained his BSc in physics at Carleton University in Ottawa in 1995. He obtained his MSc and PhD in space science at the Royal Military College of Canada in 2013 and 2017, respectively. He is currently working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Physics and Engineering Physics within the Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies.

Dr. Earl has observed all eight planets of the solar system (nine if you count Pluto), over 600 deep sky objects, including clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and over 4,300 man-made Earth-orbiting satellites, with small-aperture telescopes and CCD cameras.

Dr. Earl is especially enthusiastic about introducing the science of astronomy to the general public and to young students through public talks and star parties. This afternoon, Dr. Earl will be delivering the Fr. Lucian Kemble Lecture. He will be speaking about the importance of amateur astronomy as a fundamental tool to introduce the basic concepts of science to the general public.

Saturday Afternoon Talk (Saturday, 13:30 Wapiti Room)

"Taking Time: Streams in the Sky"

Abstract

Enjoying nature folding and unfolding gracefully - what to look for. There is more to time-lapse than shooting the stars wheeling above a landscape. Including the Moon that looks natural requires adding High Dynamic Range (HDR). Some free software will be demonstrated. Clouds, daytime and noctilucent, exhibit internal flows that are hard to follow; we can reveal these by following bulk motion.

Biography

Alister has been a watcher of the skies since adolescence, kicking into high gear in 1976 (just missed comet West - dang!) when he joined the RASC, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He has been a monthly contributor to Astronomy magazine since the 90s. His long time passion has been gazing at the Moon setting or rising. There seems to be no end in sight - he is currently collaborating with Luca Vanzella doing 3D time lapses of these majestic rises/sets behind the foreground of the beautiful city of Edmonton (since he doesn't have easy access to Stonehenge!). As a professional weather forecaster, Alister has successfully lead several total solar eclipse expeditions to clear skies.

• Before August 7 23:59, you can sign-up at SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/zAAPfvj.
• After August 7 23:59, sign-up at the registration desk.

Here's how SignUp works in 3 easy steps:

1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/zAAPfvj
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp.com)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Clinic under the Stars (Friday, 22:00 Meadows Campground)

Abstract

Naked eye observation can be less than optimal due to night myopia. While arguments exist as to the cause of night myopia, there is no doubt that it exists, but it is not something that is typically diagnosed by opticians. We will have three sets of night myopia “flippers” available at the talk so that participants can find out for themselves if they have night myopia and can find out what diopter of correction they need if corrective lenses are desired. Night myopia correction is in addition to your regular prescription if you already wear corrective lenses. Please note that this only applies to naked eye observing, if you are using binoculars or telescopes there is no advantage to correcting for night myopia.

Biography

Jim Goodridge has been an active visual observer for a number of years. Jim has served on the SSSP organizing committee and has also served as President and Vice-President of RASC Saskatoon Centre and volunteers as a guide at the University of Saskatchewan Observatory. Jim became very interested in optics after reading “Telescopes, Eyepieces, Astrographs…. Design, Analysis and Performance of Modern Astronomical Optics” by Smith, Ceragioli and Berry. That book sent him on the road to eyepiece addiction, an affliction from which he has yet to recover. Jim uses a 10 inch dob and is suffering from a severe case of aperture fever, and his wife says he can get a bigger telescope as soon as he has seen everything possible with the 10 inch. Jim expects to be buried with the 10 inch.

Under Living Skies Public Lecture (Thursday, 19:00 Park Amphitheatre)

Abstract

Saskatchewan’s own “Starman”, Ron Waldron will give a digitally illustrated talk, describing outreach activities in his home province and beyond. These activities include: star talks and telescope viewing at school camps, portable planetarium shows, formation of a youth astronomy club and aurora tours on land and at sea.

Biography

Ron Waldron is a Saskatchewan educator with 36 years classroom teaching experience in the Saskatoon Public School Division. While in this capacity, he introduced several portable planetariums to the division and as planetarium director, trained over 200 teachers in their use. During his teaching career, he also worked as a tour guide at the observatory on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

An avid amateur astronomer, Ron continues to be an active member of the Saskatoon Centre, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada where he has served in numerous executive capacities. Currently he is involved in the promotion of a Youth Astronomy club for middle years students.

Known as Saskatchewan’s own STARMAN, Ron is currently proprietor of Living Skies Stargazing, dedicated to providing telescopic views of the universe up close and personal. He delivers astronomy outreach to small and large gatherings of students and adults while travelling the province, giving digitally illustrated star talks followed by viewing through any one of his five telescopes.

For the past two years, Ron has been travelling to Churchill, Manitoba and to Bergen, Norway to assist tourists in experiencing the northern lights many of them for the first time. While there he lectures and provides background information on all things astronomical. Ron will share both his photos and experiences in his 40 minute digitally illustrated talk.

With SSSP this year so early in the month compared to most years, my biggest weather related concerns last year about this year were heat, storms and smoke. Well, looks like next week is going to be hot – perhaps record hot for the Cypress Hills area and the hottest SSSP ever. A heads up “heat alert” to your SSSP attendees might be worth your consideration.

It will be very important for attendees, especially those staying in the Meadows where this is little shade, to be prepared for sun and heat. Some attendees may be departing especially early as this weekend is the August Long Weekend and SSSP officially starts only two days later – attendees should be packing and planning for sun and heat accordingly before leaving home.

The early to mid part of next week will see a pattern of steadily warmer days across southern Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan. The published forecast for Cypress Hills (Provincial Park) as of 4 PM Friday August 3rd, has daily highs increasing from 28 °C on Monday to 37 °C (99 °F for our American friends) on Thursday, which is the last day of the currently published 7 day forecast. The forecast is actually for the broad region of Shaunavon – Maple Creek – Val Marie – Cypress Hills and is not specific to the elevation of the Cypress Hills, which is about 300 m higher than most of the area – due the increased elevation of the Cypress Hills, daytime high temperatures in the Park will likely be 2 to 3 degrees C cooler than the surroundings. Assuming today’s forecasts for next Thursday are accurate, the Park would therefore be around 34 °C. Beyond the 7-day forecast, there are indications Friday August 10 may be similarly hot. Beyond that there is notable weather model disagreement with some indication the heat will persist through the weekend and some indication of a gradual cooling trend from Saturday through Monday, though still warm with highs in the Park in the upper twenties for Sunday. So, some of the days next week may be record setting hot.

Bottom line for SSSP dates - folks (and their pets) should be prepared for full sun and days with high temps in the low to mid 30’s C, especially if travelling to local area destinations at lower elevations which as noted can be 2 to 3 degrees C warmer than in the hills.