Astronomy Night
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National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Free
Come view stars, Moon, and other celestial objects through the Observatory's telescopes. This public observing event is an opportunity to participate in the national White House Astronomy Night.
Accessibility: The terrace and Observatory dome are accessible. Viewing through the main telescope is fully accessible to all visitors with an extended eyepiece.
Viewings are dependent on clear weather. Check the Observatory's Twitter feed for updates on weather and closures.
On the evening of June 11, 2015, visitors at the Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory enjoyed spectacular views of the planets Venus and Jupiter. It was a clear summer night with beautiful skies, and the two planets were noticeably close to each other in the sky. Visitors observed the crescent shape of Venus in the telescope, and noticed stripes of color in Jupiter's atmosphere. In this image, a volunteer is pointing out where the planets can be seen in the sky.
Two weeks after this observing night, Venus and Jupiter were at conjunction, when they appeared less than half a degree apart in the sky and could be seen at the same time in a telescope.
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