Take a break from the glow of your phone and light up your evening with a personal, guided tour of the night sky instead!
If you’re hoping to do some stargazing in Ontario - look no further!
We’ve got one of the best stargazing spots in Ontario, including a sell-out event and tips to make your night sky adventure everything you dreamed of.
Looking for a stargazing event?
Blast off into the furthest galaxies, see the Perseids Meteor shower and learn more about space - a topic that has fascinated humans across the ages - with special guest astrophysicist Caroline El-Khoury who will offer guided night sky tours at Four Corners Algonquin this summer.
The Best Dark Sky Preserve in Ontario
If you’ve recently been using Google to search for terms like “stargazing near me” and “best dark sky preserve Ontario” - you’ve come to the right place. Here at Four Corners Algonquin we are an amazing dark sky friendly stargazing spot in Ontario, just steps from the edge of Algonquin Park. We offer night skies second to none in Ontario and each summer we host dark sky astronomy tours!
Four Corners Algonquin is a registered observatory on ClearDarkSky.org which gives us location-specific weather forecasts generated from data originating at the Canadian Meteorological Society. Our location isn't fancy by any means, but our night sky views are amazing, and when you combine that with some of the most brilliant scientific minds who can interpret for us what we're seeing, guests tell us the experience is unforgettable.
The Rise of Stargazing in Ontario
Stargazing and astro-tourism is growing in Ontario, which now has over eight of the world’s 80 official dark-sky reserves. Dark sky preserves and official stargazing spots in Ontario are places where you can take in the spectacle of the stars and night sky without light pollution. Typically the best stargazing spots in Ontario are located far away from cities and are situated closer to nature - which is why Whintey, Ontario, just outside of Algonquin Park, is one of the best places to go stargazing.
At dark sky preserves you’ll have your best chance to see constellations, galaxies, the Milky Way, meteor showers and even special night sky occurrences like the Northern Lights.
Join a Stargazing Event
Here at Four Corners Algonquin we host stargazing events every summer, led by experienced astrophysicists.
Have you ever wondered:
Why does the Perseids meteor shower happens every year?
If we’ll ever make the jump to hyper-space like the Millennium Falcon?
How planets were formed and what they are made of?
Now is your chance to find out!
Experience the unforgettable August night skies through basic telescope equipment and open your eyes to a new dimension. Ask questions. Learn about what it takes to become an astronomer. Find planets in the night sky and discover fun facts about the Perseids meteor shower that you can use to impress your friends.
All you need to do is show up, sit-back and watch one of the greatest “light” shows on earth!
Learn | See | Ask | Explore Whether you’re a family with young children interested in space, a space enthusiast, or a Star Wars fan, we welcome you to bring a blanket, some bug spray and your pressing questions about space.
2024 Night-Sky Guide | Caroline El-Khoury
This year we are thrilled to welcome astrophysicist Caroline El-Khoury who will offer guided night sky tours in August to coincide with the peak of the Perseids meteor shower.
A recent graduate of the University of Toronto, Caroline hosted a number of these sold out workshops last year on Manitoulin Island to great acclaim.
During our stargazing events, you can visit Four Corners Algonquin for an all-ages event to view the night sky through basic telescope technology and to learn about how travelers used stars as a compass in ancient times.
More information about our August stargazing events is coming soon. In the meantime, please join our mailing list so that you don’t miss your chance to reserve your tickets!
Stargazing Tips
If you’re interested in learning more about stargazing in Ontario below are two resources we recommend you check out!
Check out Stellarium - free phone/computer software you can use to plan your night sky hunt. You enter your location, date and time and it shows you what you can expect to see. Four Corners Algonquin GPS coordinates are 45.49605 -78.23507. Our best views will be of the sky from North-East to South-West.
Those living in Toronto should check out AstroTours when things open up. It's a monthly event hosted by the Astronomy graduate students at the University of Toronto where you can hear science talks and view the night sky from large university telescopes.
If you're looking for free places to stargaze in South Algonquin, have a look at this handy map.
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