February 3, 2009 Special Issue

Star gazing

Humbled by the experience of the Planetarium

by Sebastien Cadieux

I had not been to Montreal’s Dow Planetarium since I was small. It was now little more than a faint memory of a dark room where I stared at the ceiling.

When I learned that 2009 was the International Year of Astronomy, I knew that I had to make the trek down to the corner of St-Jacques Street O. and Peel Street to visit this 1960s Montreal relic.

The building, designed to be reminiscent of Saturn and its rings, still operates primarily on the technology that was installed when the planetarium was first built.

“It’s a 43-year-old museum but the technology is also 43-years-old,” said André Bordeleau, who hosts the different shows that the planetarium puts on daily.

As he left his control centre, from which he hosts shows and walks visitors through some of the more recognisable constellations, I marvelled at the console of glowing multicoloured buttons that looked like they were pulled straight out of a classic science-fiction film. “That’s the original star projector!” he added, pointing to the hulking light cannon at the centre of the room.

Although the technology is the same age as Montreal’s metro, leaning back in the old leather chairs and letting the intoxicating view of thousands of stars mesmerize you is a fascinating and humbling experience. The opening video may need work as the planetarium’s 40th anniversary is celebrated, despite it being the institution’s 43rd year.

“Montreal’s dome of light pollution can be seen from Burlington Vermont—that’s nearly 100 miles from here,” he reminds me as he argues the effects of light pollution. “Fortunately, here at the planetarium we can dispose of light pollution fairly easily. What you see above you now is what you should be able to see from your own backyard.”

“We still do good quality shows. We’re still a good bargain, we’re still worth a visit,” insists Bordeleau. Having seen two different shows—and as a student—only paying $6 each, you can rest assured that the presentations range from awe-inspiring to educational.

Under what other circumstances would you learn about the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, or how in thousands of years it is going to destroy the Andromeda galaxy?

“Attendance has been down for the past couple of years,” Bordeleau mentions with disappointment in his voice. “The perception is that now that they’ve announced that ‘okay, there’s the funding, there will be a new planetarium.’ That it means ‘they’re closed, they’re not open anymore.’ But the truth is that we’re open until at least 2010 if not 2011.”

Bordeleau insists that having this planetarium is an honour for our city and a tourist attraction. “Ontario doesn’t have a planetarium anymore, they haven’t had one since 1996. And in the summer people come from east Ontario, New Brunswick, Maine, Vermont, all over.”

Weather permitting, Bordeleau—who celebrated his 15th anniversary with the planetarium yesterday—will guide you through a solar observation session following afternoon shows.

As I left the building he reminded me that I could even “take a look at the Copernicus statue, but because of the acid rain it looks more like Alice Coopernicus.”

The Dow Planetarium is located at 1000 St-Jacques Street, or on the web at museumsnature.ca.