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The HCO offers a diverse array of on-site outreach activities. These include guided tours showcasing our illustrious Great Refractor Telescope, exclusive viewings of our renowned glass plate collections, engaging events honoring influential women in Harvard’s astronomical legacy, and rooftop stargazing sessions. Our on-site outreach endeavors are boundless in both variety and scope. At the HCO, we extend a warm welcome to all who share our passion for astronomy, the history of the cosmos, and a genuine enthusiasm for science and community engagement.
Please visit our Outreach page to see our other outreach initiatives!
Music meets space science! 
A truly unforgettable event! 
– February 2025
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Resident Composer David Ibbett and the Multiverse Soloists captivated a large audience with movements from the First Billion Years Symphony, alongside selections from Voice of the Universe, blending chamber music and electronics to bring the cosmos to life. Guests were also treated to an incredible performance by CfA’s Education Specialist Gerhard Sonnert!
Adding to the magic, Matthew Ashby, Chair of the CfA’s Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division, guided us through the mysteries of the cosmic dark ages, his groundbreaking work on the Voyager missions and the importance of stardust!
This music-meets-science event wouldn’t have been such a success without the incredible contributions of those mentioned, as well as the dedication and involvement of Lotem Loeb, Rajarajan Palanimurugan, Jessica Smith, Sara Wilkins, Vincent LeRow, Barbara A Hill, Meredith Leich, Nadine Aftab, Taylor Salvato, Subaiou Zhang, Philip Gonzalez, Shaun Gallagher and William Gottemoller!
Here’s to many more inspiring collaborations that bridge the gap between creativity and discovery! 
Space Alcohol! – February 2025
The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences chose us at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (Harvard College Observatory) for an unforgettable and truly uniquely themed event! Guests were captivated by fascinating talks from CfA scientists Alice Booth and Beatrice Kulterer, who explored the presence of alcohol compounds in space. And what better way to complement a discussion on space alcohol than with drinks featuring some of the very same alcohols we’ve detected in the cosmos?
This incredible evening wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of Sarah Banatoski and the entire GSAS team. It was also Sarah’s final Alumni Relations event, and I can’t think of a more fitting sendoff!
Beyond the stellar contributions from Alice and Beatrice (who have forever changed how we think about alcohol), we’re deeply grateful to CfA scientists William Gottemoller and Abigail White for braving the cold on our rooftop, guiding guests through a breathtaking tour of the planets—just as a perfectly timed planetary parade unfolded beneath Boston’s crystal-clear night sky. Also, a huge thank you to Muqing Xu for capturing the magic of the evening in stunning photos!
St Peter School at the HCO – January 2025
Huge thanks to Julio Pereira, Dr. Max Ciarlet and St. Peter School for visiting us at the HCO! Students explored groundbreaking research at the CfA, learned about the pioneering Harvard Women in astronomy, and ended the day with stunning views of the Boston skyline against a snowy backdrop. It was a pleasure sharing the wonders of astronomy with these young explorers!
Long Now Boston at the HCO – January 2025
A huge thank you to Long Now Boston for choosing the HCO at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian for an unforgettable night under the stars!
Guests explored the Harvard Plate Stacks with Thom Burns and Lisa Bravata, toured our historic telescopes, and witnessed a rare planet parade over Cambridge. Special thanks to William Gottemoller and Abigail White for guiding us through the night sky and to Gary Oberbrunner and John Goodman for making this event possible.
Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) field trip at the HCO – January 2025
Philippe and the HCO had an incredible time connecting with high school students at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, exploring solar system formation, the search for life, the Rare Earth Hypothesis, and Philippe’s personal take on the Fermi Paradox. After great discussions, we braved the cold to observe Jupiter and its moons through one of our largest telescopes!
Huge thanks to Paola Domínguez Fernández, Jean Dao, the Harvard School Partnerships Program, and the Science Research Mentoring Program for the connection and for inspiring future scientists.
An Earth-Sized Hydrogen Bomb Erupting in the Sky! – November 2024
On November 14, Philippe Reekie hosted an extraordinary public virtual talk featuring CfA scientists Dr. Ole König and Dr. Andrea Sacchi. Nearly 100 members of the public joined us to explore the imminent nova explosion of T Coronae Borealis (T CrB)—a rare celestial event we will likely witness with the unaided eye any day now! This thermonuclear explosion, triggered by a white dwarf siphoning material from its stellar companion, is predicted to shine as brightly as the stars of the Big Dipper—but only for a few fleeting days. It will be a brief but breathtaking phenomenon, and we hope everyone has the chance to marvel at this rare cosmic spectacle! A heartfelt thank you to Shaun Gallagher and Phillip Gonzalez for their indispensable technical support, and to Randall Smith and Lisa Kewley, whose inspiration made this event a reality.
Lunar-themed GSAS International Summer Institute Dinner at the HCO – August 2024
Thank you to the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for choosing the HCO to host their 2024 International Summer Institute Dinner. In honor of NASA’s International Observe the Moon Day, Philippe Reekie, presented a compelling case for why future lunar settlers should consider building their bases underground rather than on the surface. Lunar caves may offer the most habitable environments on the Moon, providing natural protection from extreme radiation, shelter from meteorite impacts, and a stable temperature of -5°F. Afterward, we moved to the rooftop to observe a red-tinged Moon through our most powerful instrument, the Clark Telescope. A huge thanks to Shelby Johnson, Sarah Banatoski and Katie Riggs from GSAS for organizing such a stellar evening, to Richard Zachary Murray for telescope assistance, and to Shaun Gallagher for AV support!
Special Visit from the South Shore Astronomical Society & Astronomical Society of Southern New England – April 2024
A vibrant community of stargazers gathered for an enlightening presentation on the remarkable history of women at the HCO, courtesy of Thom Burns and the Harvard Plate Stacks Archive team. Attendees also had the privilege of examining unique glass plates capturing solar eclipses, and got face-to-face with our majestic one-of-a-kind Great Refractor Telescope. Philippe rounded off the evening with a discussion on extraterrestrial salt, suggesting why it could potentially pave the way for the first detection of alien life.
