Astronomy from Coast to Coast to Coast

TL;DR

This paper explores Canada's extensive and diverse coastline and mountainous terrain, highlighting its potential for astronomical observation due to its unique geographic features and remote, elevated locations.

Contribution

It identifies Canada's geographic features as promising sites for astronomy, emphasizing the potential of its remote, snow-capped mountains and coastal regions for astronomical research.

Findings

Canada's coastline offers diverse, remote locations suitable for astronomy.

Mountainous regions in Canada are comparable to famous observatory sites.

Potential for establishing new astronomical observatories in Canada's northern and coastal terrains.

Abstract

Canada is a triangle-shaped country, roughly speaking. We all know that the Atlantic Ocean is at its eastern corner in the Maritimes, and off the west coast of British Columbia is the Pacific Ocean. The Arctic Ocean, however, makes up the bulk of Canada's coastline, along its pointy "top." That peaks closest to the North Pole in Nunavut, on the shores of Ellesmere Island. Running down this island, as on our western flank in the Rockies, is a range of permanently snowcapped mountains, with one topping 2600 m. It is a propitious geography, which along with that of northern Greenland, provides plenty of ice-locked, and windward, elevated coastal terrain; potentially perfect for astronomy. Actually, these mountains are about the same distance from either Halifax or Victoria (or Halifax to Victoria) as Victoria is from the amazing 4200-m summit of Maunakea, on the Big Island of Hawai'i - although they are not as easily reached.