Drop-In Activity

Astronomy After Hours

Did you know that the Museum offers our starry-eyed public free evenings full of astronomy-themed fun? Join us, weather-permitting*, at the Gilliland Observatory on the roof of the Museum’s parking garage. On clear nights, you can view stars, planets, the Moon, and other astronomical phenomena. On cloudy nights, tour the inside of our Observatory and participate in a variety of hands-on astronomy and space science activities with Museum staff.

In 2018, this seasonal program will run on Friday nights from April 13 – October 26 and Thursday nights from July 5 – August 30. Hours vary as sunset times shift throughout the season.

• Fridays, April 13 – 27: 8:00-10:00
• Fridays in May and June: 8:30-10:30
• Thursdays and Fridays in July and August: 8:30-10:30
• Fridays in September: 8:00-10:00
• Fridays in October: 7:30-9:30

*On rainy nights and nights when there are chances of thunderstorms, we’ll offer a variety of astronomy and space and earth science activities in the Suit/Cabot Laboratory, located in the Red Wing, Lower Level.

For more details, and to find out which location Astronomy After Hours will be running on a scheduled evening, call our hotline at 617-589-0267. We update with the evening’s plans by 5:30 pm on the day of the program.

Please be aware that throughput in the Observatory is limited. During the summer when we are the busiest, please plan to arrive no later than half an hour before the end of the program to ensure a place in line. Visitors arriving less than a half-hr before close may participate in other astronomy-themed activities but will be admitted to the observatory only as time allows.