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Speaker Event: Chasing the Sun – SOLD OUT

Special Event

Date & Time:

March 27, 2024, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location:

Rock Garden (1185 York Boulevard)

Types:

Speaker Series, Special Event

Admission:

Pre-Registration Required

Event Description

It took less than seven minutes to change a life forever. It was July 11, 1991 when David Makepeace was standing on a hilltop in La Paz – deep in the sun-scorched valleys of Baja Mexico when he saw his first Solar Eclipse and an eclipse chaser was born. Since then, he has spent the last 30+ years crisscrossing the globe to chase the eclipse experience. Observing 17 total eclipses, 5 annular and 4 partial eclipses. Makepeace uses his unique perspective on our world to illustrate the powerful relationship between us and the immense forces of the universe.  

RBG invites all those curious to learn about Solar Eclipses, how they changed David’s life and how to prepare for the upcoming April 8th eclipse to a special talk by David Makepeace on Wednesday, March 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Great Room at the David Bradley & Nancy Gordon Rock Garden.

  • FREE to attend, pre-registration required
  • $15 donation to Green Angels recommended
    • Green Angels is RBG’s financial assistance program that provides admission passes, child and adult programs, school programming and school transportation costs to those experiencing financial hardships
sequence of images showing the stages of the eclipse
Courtesy Dr. David Galbraith

About David Makepeace

A filmmaker by trade, Makepeace has spent the last 30 years crisscrossing the globe to chase the eclipse experience. His observations of 17 total eclipses, 5 annular and 4 partial eclipses has made him one of the busiest chasers in the world – and since the turn of the century he has fulfilled his goal of visiting each of the seven continents on the chase.

As a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and something of a celebrity in the eclipse chasing community, Makepeace has devoted much of his life to the popularizing of these events where ever they may occur.

While not a scientist or professional astronomer, Makepeace is a highly successful salesman of the eclipse experience. His style and enthusiasm are infectious, and his ability to make simple the hard science of eclipses has consistently earned him top marks from his audiences. His award-winning documentary films and videos including “Hooked On The Shadow” (2000) and “Still Hooked” (2017) are widely regarded as films that define the eclipse chasing culture. “Hooked On The Shadow” was co-produced by The Space Channel in Canada and since its release, has been screened around the world by astronomy groups, planetariums and tour operators as the pre-requisite to eclipse travel. Since then, Makepeace has built an exclusive archive of eclipse expedition footage that spans the globe and illustrates his talks.

eclipseguy.com

More Exhibit Experiences

Courtesy Dr. David Galbraith

Eclipse Viewing Experience

Monday April 8; Arboretum

Come view the Solar Eclipse at the RBG Arboretum! The space will be activated with food and beverage, fire pits and more. Eclipse glasses for safe viewing will be available.

Learn More

Portable Planetarium Experience

Weekends, March 30 to April 7; RBG Centre

RBG is pleased to welcome the McMaster University Physics and Astronomy Department and its Portable Planetarium.

Learn More