Greater Victoria residents are invited to get a closer view of space as the University of Victoria hosts its annual Astronomy Day celebration featuring Bob McDonald, host of CBC RadioB次元官网网址檚 Quirks & Quarks, April 28.

The event features family-friendly activities throughout the day, including telescope making, solar viewing, astrophotography workshops, hourly lectures, and an outdoor planetary walk.

In the evening (weather permitting), guests can stargaze through a large, 32-inch telescope on the roof of the Bob Wright Centre.

McDonald will share his views on how space has evolved during his lifetime, in a presentation titled Vacations in Space: The Hottest Holiday Spots in the Solar System.

B次元官网网址淎s a journalist, IB次元官网网址檝e had the privilege of witnessing the exploration of our solar system by robot,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to give a little travelogue of how IB次元官网网址檝e felt like a passenger on ColumbusB次元官网网址� ship as weB次元官网网址檝e explored new worlds.B次元官网网址�

McDonald will have pictures of discoveries, such as MarsB次元官网网址� pink sky, JupiterB次元官网网址檚 ring, and volcanoes and oceans located on moons, to share.

He encourages folks to come out and celebrate because there is a lot to learn about our universe.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much we donB次元官网网址檛 know about our universe B次元官网网址� 95 per cent of the universe is something totally mysterious to us,B次元官网网址� McDonald said.

We need to realize how small and precious Earth is, and we need to take care of our planet because itB次元官网网址檚 the only planet humans can live on, he added.

Astronomy Day runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with evening activities from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at UVicB次元官网网址檚 Bob Wright Centre, located east of the Elliott Building and south of parking lot B.

McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 speech starts at 7:30 p.m. in room A104 of the Centre.

All-day parking is available for $2.25 but admission to the event is free.

For more information, visit victoria.rasc.ca/events/AstroDay/2012.