The David Thompson Astronomical Observatory at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay offers a unique and captivating experience for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts. Named after the renowned explorer and cartographer David Thompson, the observatory is home to one of the largest publicly accessible telescopes in Central Canada—a 20-inch Corrected Dall-Kirkham (CDK) Telescope.
Visitors can observe a variety of celestial bodies, including galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, and planets, in stunning detail. The observatory hosts a range of educational programs and events throughout the year. These include public viewing nights where visitors can use the telescope to explore the universe and special events like the Perseid meteor shower and solar eclipse viewings. The observatory also offers day and evening educational programs, overnight adventures, and activities for groups such as Guides and Scouts.
In addition to the powerful telescope, the observatory features a collection of meteorites and authentic astronomy instruments used by explorers like David Thompson in the 1700s. The adjacent Discovery Centre is equipped with astronomy software, computers, and video feed and projection systems, allowing for virtual tours of the night sky even on cloudy nights.