Drop-In Activity

Astronomy After Hours

Did you know that the Museum offers our starry-eyed public free evenings full of astronomy-themed fun? On Friday nights from April to October, the Astronomy After Hours team hosts a variety of hands-on astronomy and space science activities. When weather allows we'll have small telescopes available for a hands-on experience, and visitors will have the opportunity to view the evening’s featured astronomical object through the 11” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope in the Museum’s Gilliland Observatory.

Due to the unpredictability of the weather and variability of astronomical objects available for viewing, programs activities, times, and locations are finalized on the evening of the program. In particular, there is no observing on rainy nights and when there is a chance of thunderstorms, but indoor activities will still be available. Please check the Museum’s Twitter feed (@museumofscience) or call our hotline at 617-589-0267 for information. We'll update with the evening’s plans by 5:30 pm on the day of the program.

Program Hours

In 2019, this seasonal program will run on Friday nights only, from April 5 – October 25.

Because sunset times shift throughout the season, program hours vary as follows:

• April: 8:00 -10:00 pm
• May, June, July, and August: 8:30 -10:30 pm
• September: 8:00 – 10:00 pm
• October: 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Check back for additional events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first landing on the Moon!

Please be aware that space in the Observatory is limited. On clear nights during the summer, please plan to arrive no later than an hour before the end of the program to improve your chances of getting a place in line. Visitors arriving after we have reached capacity may participate in other astronomy-themed activities but will not be admitted to the Observatory.

Because of the rising popularity of the program, the Astronomy After Hours team will introduce a more formal registration system for use on busy nights to reduce wait times. Stay tuned for details!

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This program is free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Lowell Institute.

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