The Museum's new observatory will be open for a special night-time star gazing. Don't miss this chance to see an array of celestial objects through a powerful professional telescope.

Afterward, stay for the lecture about the Hubble Space Telescope by astronaut John Grunsfeld in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater. Tickets are required for the lecture only. Click the link below entitled, "The Significance of the Hubble Space Telescope" for ticketing info.

The observatory contains a 16-inch, 3,000-pound Boller and Chivens telescope on loan from Harvard College Observatory. It opened in early October 2009 and is located on the Fourth Avenue side of the National Mall building, on the terrace outside of McDonald's.

This event is made possible by the generous support of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
At the National Air and Space Museum's public observatory, visitors can look through the 16-inch telescope to discover craters on the Moon, spots on the Sun (using safe solar filters), and other wonders of the Universe.
How to attend

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

6th St. and Independence Ave SW. Washington, DC 20560
CLOSED - Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory