For most of human history, the sky wasn’t just beautiful — it was a warning system. Comets meant disaster. Eclipses meant the Sun was under attack. A full Moon could drive people mad. Even certain dates, like the Ides of March, carried cosmic dread. In this program, we’ll explore famous superstitions tied to astronomical events and calendar cycles, then unpack the real science behind them. Along the way, we’ll see how our brains are wired to find patterns, how fear shaped early interpretations of the sky, and why the real universe is far stranger — and more interesting — than the omens ever were.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members - $25/class, Members - $20/class, Student (with valid ID) - $10/class

Presenter: Christopher Graney - Vatican Observatory

Planet Earth has been a familiar concept for a mere fraction of recorded history. Until about the mid-1600s, most humans thought of Earth as immobile, likely either dim or simply invisible from the Moon or anywhere else in the heavens, and not (like the planets) participating in what Galileo called "the dance of the stars." But almost as soon as humans started to grasp that Earth is a planet, many also began wondering if perhaps the other planets might be earths. This bold conjecture ignited the whole gripping history and literature of space travel, of extraterrestrials, of other worlds. And yet the thesis that the Universe is full of other worlds like Earth has from the start been fueled more by imagination than by scientific evidence. For all its appeal, it has consistently been undermined by observations of the actual Universe. This talk will be based on material in the new book from Oxford University Press, A Universe of Earths: Our Planet and Other Worlds, from Copernicus to NASA by Dennis Danielson and Christopher M. Graney, and on their related cover article in the March 2026 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.

Speaker bio: Christopher M. Graney is an astronomer and historian of science at the Specola Vaticana (the Vatican’s astronomical observatory) and the Vatican Observatory Foundation. He is the author of four books and numerous scholarly and popular articles on the history of astronomy. Mr. Graney will be available for book sales and signing before and after the event.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class, Members $20/class, Student (with valid ID) $10/class

Journey to Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and a world of swirling storms, powerful gravity, and dozens of intriguing moons. From the iconic Great Red Spot to hidden oceans beneath icy surfaces, Jupiter reveals a system all its own. Discover how this gas giant shaped the solar system—and continues to influence it today.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class.  Members $20/class.  Students $10/class (Valid Student ID required).

Explore how the Hubble Space Telescope transformed our understanding of the cosmos. From breathtaking images of distant galaxies to groundbreaking discoveries about the age and expansion of the universe, Hubble has reshaped how we see space. Learn the story behind the telescope that brought the universe into focus.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets:  Non-members $25/class.  Members $20/class.  Students $10/class (with valid ID)

Earth is surrounded by thousands of active satellites—and millions of pieces of debris. This class explores how satellites power modern life, from communication to navigation, and the growing challenge of keeping orbit safe and sustainable. Discover the hidden world above our heads and what it means for the future of space exploration.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class. Members $20/class.  Student (with valid ID) $10/class