National Air and Space Museum Public Observatory Project IYA 2009

Please Note: The Public Observatory is temporarily closed for maintenance. During this time, visit us at the Museum's Independence Avenue entrance for safe Sun observing through our portable telescopes, daily (except Mondays) from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, weather permitting.

Celebrate the International Year of Astronomy and enjoy a new activity at the National Air and Space Museum: a public observatory. Look through the 16-inch telescope to discover craters on the Moon, spots on the Sun (using safe solar filters), the phases of Venus, and other wonders of the universe. Participate in hands-on activities related to astronomy.

Location: The Observatory is located outside on the National Mall Building's east terrace.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 1pm-5pm, weather permitting, for daytime observing. Schedules are subject to change and will be posted at Observatory entrance and at the Museum's Welcome Center.

Accessibility: The terrace and Observatory dome are accessible. Viewing through the main telescope is not fully accessible at this time, but an eyepiece extension will be added soon to make telescope viewing accessible as well. Please check this page for updated information.

Learn more about this project on the Museum's AirSpace Blog.

Questions & Answers:

What can visitors do in the Observatory?

When the weather is clear, visitors will be able to look through the eyepiece of the 16-inch telescope to see the Moon, the planets, and the Sun (safely), guided by our staff of astronomy educators. At times, there will also be additional portable telescopes set up around the Observatory. You can participate in hands-on, interactive activities to learn more about astronomy and telescopes at our Discovery Station.

What if it is raining or cloudy?

During overcast or rainy weather, there will not be any observing through the telescope. The Observatory may either be closed to the public or remain open for tours of the Observatory and telescope. Educational programs such as Discovery Stations may also be available.

What kind of telescope is inside the Public Observatory?

The centerpiece of the Public Observatory Project is a 16-inch Boller & Chivens telescope. The telescope was originally part of Harvard-Smithsonian's Oak Ridge Observatory in Harvard, Massachusetts. It was used for astronomical research until recent years, and is now on loan to the National Air and Space Museum for the Public Observatory Project.

Can you really do astronomy in the daytime?

Yes. Public programming at the Observatory will be primarily during the daytime. Visitors will be able to observe craters on the Moon, the phases of Venus, and sunspots on the Sun (through our safe solar filters). An assortment of portable telescopes will also be used to show different views of the Sun and Moon.