Events
Events
Class passes now available!
Members now have access to our Astronomy Class Pass! Buy a 6-month or year-long class to gain unlimited access to our ongoing class series for the specified time period! Use the pass to attend classes in person or to receive class recordings when you can't make it to the observatory! Check out our 2026 Astronomy Class Schedule
Ever wonder how astronomers catch a star flickering, an exoplanet crossing its sun, or an asteroid tumbling through space — all just by tracking changes in brightness? That's photometry, and it's one of the most accessible ways for amateur astronomers to contribute real data to ongoing research. This class introduces the concepts and methods behind photometry and shows you how to get involved in citizen science projects tracking asteroids, supernovae, exoplanets, and binary stars. Whether you have your own astrophotography equipment or want to use publicly available data, this class is for you!
Class level: Intermediate - This class assumes basic knowledge of astronomy and telescopes.
Tickets:
Non-members $25/class
Members $20/class
Student (with valid ID) $10/class
One of the biggest meteor showers of the year, the Perseids, peaks the night of August 12–13. This year the timing is about as good as it gets, with a new moon leaving the sky completely dark for the entire peak. Rates are already strong the night of our class, so come learn the science first, then step outside after for the show. We'll cover how comets and asteroids fuel these annual events, and why predicting a shower's performance is trickier than it sounds — with a preview of additional showers this fall and winter.
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
Scheduled to launch in late August, NASA’s newest space telescope will tackle some of astronomy’s biggest open questions: the nature of dark energy and dark matter, and the search for new worlds beyond our Solar System. Named for Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and the “mother of the Hubble telescope”, will survey the infrared sky with a field of view over 100 times larger than Hubble’s. Join us to learn about this next giant leap in astronomy.
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
