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The HCO hosts Public Observatory Nights, usually scheduled for the last Thursday of selected months. Philippe Reekie orchestrates these events expertly, aiming to connect with local communities, ignite curiosity about the universe, and showcase our groundbreaking work.
These events feature guest speakers who are passionate about sharing captivating science stories in accessible language, fueled by their own experiences and offering insights into their research. Each event is typically themed around celestial objects visible in the night sky on the day of the event. In addition to talks, Philippe often surprises his audience with special guest performances or activities, such as science-themed musical shows and interactive science booths.
Later in the evening, guests are escorted onto the HCO’s rooftop, where an arsenal of high-powered telescopes and an army of astronomers await their arrival, eager to show off the cosmos.
Our Public Observatory Nights are immensely popular, often selling out within days.
For more information, contact us at obsvnight@cfa.harvard.edu
For more information on the next Public Observatory Night, please see the News & Events page!
Please visit our Outreach page to see our other outreach initiatives!
2024 Public Observatory Nights
November Public Observatory Night – Astrobiology
Featuring:
Jenny Calahan, “How to Build an Earth (and Other Habitable Planets)”
Xavier Portillo, “An RNA World; Past, Present, and Future”
On Nov 21, Philippe Reekie hosted an Astrobiology-themed Public Observatory Night, celebrating one of the most thought-provoking topics in space science. After a brief introduction where Philippe highlighted his own contributions to the search for life on Mars, the event began with a compelling talk by Jenny Calahan. Jenny’s presentation focused on building habitable worlds and exploring how humanity might create environments suitable for life beyond Earth. This was followed by Xavier Portillo’s (Harvard Medical School) fascinating dive into the RNA world, shedding light on biomolecules that predate DNA and their significance in the origins of life. One of the evening’s standout moments was Lisa Bravata, Harvard Plate Stacks Curator, showcasing an impressive collection of historic artifacts tied to humanity’s enduring quest for extraterrestrial life. These rare items brought the audience closer to the history and science behind our cosmic curiosity. Guests were also delighted by some fun and meaningful giveaways, including lettuce seed packs—representing plants grown aboard the International Space Station—tardigrade stickers featuring these resilient micro-animals, and postcards honoring Harvard’s pioneering women in science. The night concluded with Philippe leading an energetic tour of the Great Refractor Telescope. He shared its rich history and its connection to groundbreaking discoveries, offering attendees a glimpse into the past, present, and future of astronomical exploration.
Heartfelt thanks to Thom Burns, William Gottemoller, Craig Rezza (Museum of Science), Keara Carter, Phillip Gonzalez, Brandon Lazo, and Taylor Salvato.
October Public Observatory Night – Comets
Featuring:
Michael Rudenko, “Comets, Kings, and Curious Things”
Mike Alexandersen, “Planetary Defense: How Ready Are We for a Potential Impact?”
On October 24th, Philippe Reekie hosted a Comet-Themed Public Observatory Night. The evening began with two incredible talks by Michael Rudenko and Mike Alexandersen. The idea for the theme came from Rudenko, as Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), with its 80,000-year-long orbit, graced our skies on the night! Rudenko ingeniously created a scaled model of the Solar System in the auditorium, using rope, batteries, and LEDs to represent planetary distances—with the comet scaled into this immersive display. After the talks, Philippe guided over 100 guests through the historic Great Refractor, leading them to the roof. There, a team of astronomers, educators, and comet hunters eagerly welcomed a crowd of passionate stargazers. Though early observations were hampered by clouds, those who waited were rewarded with mesmerizing views of both Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS and Saturn’s system, complete with its iconic rings and the moons Titan and Enceladus.
A heartfelt thank you to Michael Rudenko, Mike Alexandersen, Frank Sienkiewicz, Purvang Patel, Taylor Salvato, Abigail White, Craig Rezza, Brandon Lazo, Stephen James O’Meara, Dave Bell, Philip Gonzalez, and Valerie O’Kane. Their dedication and energy made the night possible, allowing us all to share in the beauty of the cosmos. We have only one sky, and it will continue to unite us.
September Public Observatory Night – The Moon
Featuring:
Roger Fu, “Doing Geology on the Moon Through a Telescope”
Martin Elvis, “Next: Super-Telescopes on the Moon?!”
Philippe Reekie recently led the September 2024 Public Observatory Night, a lunar-themed event in celebration of NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night. The evening featured guest speakers Roger Fu (Harvard’s Earth and Planetary Sciences) and Martin Elvis. Roger captivated the audience with a remarkable discussion on how we can study the Moon’s geology from Earth using telescopes. Following him, Martin fervently highlighted the significant benefits of constructing and operating super-telescopes on the Moon.
After the talks, David Ibbett, the CfA’s Resident Composer, along with his musical colleague Jessica Smith, enchanted guests with a mesmerizing flute performance enhanced by dynamic live electronics. Their piece created an auditory experience reminiscent of sounds one might hear while traveling to Jupiter’s Europa and landing in its subsurface ocean. Although roof observations were canceled due to weather conditions, Philippe brought an array of intriguing lunar-themed hands-on objects, including a real lunar rock and other lunar-related artifacts generously provided by the Plate Stacks team. He concluded the evening by offering guests a tour of the magnificent Great Refractor Telescope.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Philippe Reekie, Craig Rezza, Madelin Nova, Valerie O’Kane, Philip Gonzalez, Amar Skaljic, the entire facilities team, Sarah Shipley and Brandon Lazo for their incredible dedication and support.
June Public Observatory Night – In Spanish
Noche de Observatorio Público en Español
Featuring:
Tatiana Niembro Hernández, “Climate in Space: The Sun and its consequences here on Earth”
Ernesto Camacho Iniguez, “Black Holes: What they are and how can we find them”
On the evening of June 27th, 2024, the HCO was thrilled to host our inaugural Spanish-Speaking Public Observatory Night. The atmosphere was electric as our esteemed speakers captivated a full house. Tatiana Niembro Hernández took us on a mesmerizing journey through “Climate in Space: The Sun and its consequences here on Earth,” while Ernesto Camacho Iniguez delved into the mysteries of “Black Holes: What they are and how can we find them,” using an impressive 6ft-wide Gravity Well to vividly illustrate the warping of spacetime by black hole gravity.
Following these engaging talks, our guests ascended to the roof via the iconic Great Refractor, where they were treated to insights into Harvard’s pioneering women astronomers and the groundbreaking discoveries made with our historic telescope. Although planets and the Moon eluded us that night, our telescopes enchanted everyone with views of stars, clusters, and the majestic Ring Nebula. Adding to the enchantment, fireworks illuminated the sky, casting a memorable glow over the Boston skyline.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of Philippe Reekie (organizer), Andrés Alejandro Plazas Malagón (co-organizer/auditorium host, and came up with the idea for this event), Tatiana Niembro Hernández and Ernesto Camacho Iniguez (guest speakers), Romy Rodriguez and Zachary Murray (telescope support), Madelin Nova (logistical support), Brandon Lazo (photography and website/social media), Shaun Gallagher (AV/IT support), and our exceptional facilities and ITS team. We also extend our gratitude to the entire Spanish-speaking community in the Boston area for helping to spread the word about this wonderful event.
To our cherished international communities: stay curious, dream big, and reach for the stars.
Presentando:
Tatiana Niembro Hernández, “El Clima en el Espacio: El Sol y sus consecuencias aquí en la Tierra”
Ernesto Camacho Iniguez, “Agujeros Negros: Qué son y cómo podemos encontrarlos”
El 27 de junio de 2024, el HCO tuvo el placer de organizar nuestra primera Noche de Observatorio Público en Español. El ambiente fue electrizante mientras nuestros distinguidos oradores cautivaban a una sala llena. Tatiana Niembro Hernández nos llevó en un fascinante viaje a través de “El Clima en el Espacio: El Sol y sus consecuencias aquí en la Tierra”, mientras que Ernesto Camacho Iniguez exploraba los misterios de “Agujeros Negros: Qué son y cómo podemos encontrarlos”, utilizando un impresionante Pozo de Gravedad de 6 pies de ancho para ilustrar vívidamente la distorsión del espacio-tiempo causada por la gravedad de los agujeros negros.
Tras estas enriquecedoras charlas, nuestros invitados subieron al techo a través del icónico Gran Refractor, donde recibieron conocimientos sobre las astrónomas pioneras de Harvard y los descubrimientos revolucionarios realizados con nuestro telescopio histórico. Aunque los planetas y la Luna nos eludieron esa noche, nuestros telescopios maravillaron a todos con vistas de estrellas, cúmulos y la majestuosa Nebulosa Anular. Para añadir al encanto, los fuegos artificiales iluminaron el cielo, proyectando un brillo memorable sobre el horizonte de Boston.
Nada de esto habría sido posible sin la dedicación de Philippe Reekie (organizador), Andrés Alejandro Plazas Malagón (co-organizador/anfitrión del auditorio), Tatiana Niembro Hernández y Ernesto Camacho Iniguez (oradores invitados), Romy Rodriguez y Zachary Murray (soporte de telescopios), Madelin Nova (soporte logístico), Brandon Lazo (fotografía y soporte web/redes sociales), Shaun Gallagher (soporte AV/IT), y nuestro excepcional equipo de instalaciones y ITS. También extendemos nuestro agradecimiento a toda la comunidad hispanohablante en el área de Boston por ayudar a difundir este maravilloso evento.
¡A nuestras queridas comunidades internacionales: manténganse curiosas, sueñen en grande y alcancen las estrellas!
April Public Observatory Night – Black Holes
Featuring:
Maria J Rodriguez, “What is a Black Hole?”
Angelo Ricarte, “Imaging Black Holes with the Event Horizon Telescope and Beyond”
Special Guest:
CfA Composer in Residence, David Ibbett.
Performing an acoustic version of “Heart of the Galaxy” from his Black Hole Symphony.
Our April Public Observatory Night was a captivating exploration of the enigmatic world of black holes. The evening kicked off with two captivating talks by Maria Rodriguez and Angelo Ricarte, delving into the mysteries of these cosmic phenomena. We delved into what defines a black hole, pondered the fate of objects falling into their abyss, and marveled at the monumental efforts behind capturing images of these celestial giants.
Adding to the enchantment was a mesmerizing musical performance by David Ibbett, who treated us to a preview of his enthralling Black Hole Symphony. As the night progressed, we turned our gaze heavenward, guided by a team of dedicated astronomers and an array of powerful telescopes. Among the celestial highlights were binary star systems and dazzling star clusters, each a testament to the wonders of the universe.
The culmination of the evening came with the appearance of a hauntingly beautiful blood-red Moon, casting an eerie yet mesmerizing glow against the backdrop of the Boston skyline.
March Public Observatory Night – Stars
Featuring:
Paul Green, “The Lives of Stars”
Yvette Cendes, “Supernovae-Witnessing Cosmic Explosions Firsthand”
Despite torrential rain, our March Public Observatory Night was a huge success. Guests were treated to two mesmerizing talks, thanks to Paul Green and Yvette Cendes, focusing on star lifecycles and supernovae. The night concluded with a hands-on meteorite workshop, where guests were able to examine real meteorite samples up close, sparking engaging discussions and a sense of wonder about the cosmos. The enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from the guests highlighted the event’s impact, proving that even inclement weather couldn’t dampen our community’s passion for astronomy.
February Public Observatory Night – Jupiter
Featuring:
Zachary Murray, “How the Giant Planets Sculpted the Solar System”
Philippe Reekie, “Could the Moons of Jupiter Support Extraterrestrial Life?”
Richard Zachary Murray and Philippe Reekie delivered captivating talks, discussing the fascinating topics of the Grand Tack Model and the potential for life on the Jovian moons. After exploring these intriguing aspects of Jupiter, we then moved to the rooftop for a tour of the night sky. Using our most powerful telescopes, attendees had the opportunity to peer into Jupiter’s “back garden,” observing its moons and other celestial wonders in stunning detail. The clear night sky provided the perfect backdrop for this experience, allowing guests to see the gas giant and its surrounding moons up close. The excitement and awe shared by everyone during the rooftop session underscored the event’s success and the enduring allure of stargazing.