National Astronomy Day

The Museum opens at 10 AM, and the festivities will begin at 1 PM when the Observatory opens to view the Sun. We will be using our solar telescope to look for sunspots and prominences.

In the afternoon, enjoy various astronomy-themed activities in the Great Hall. The Bentley Planetarium will have extended hours featuring the debut of our newest show, Living Worlds.

While you’re waiting for the Sun to set, come get your own star hat and watch Wall-E in our Theater! Once it is dark, we will shift our focus to celestial objects in the evening sky, such as the Moon, Mars, the Beehive Cluster, and galaxies M81 and M82. At 9:30 and 10 PM, Tellus Astronomer Karisa Zdanky will lead outdoor star walks on the Museum grounds that will feature a live tour of the night sky.