Stargaze with us at the Udvar-Hazy Center! Join staff and the members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club for an evening of stargazing. We'll help you use our telescopes to observe planets, stars, and more.

Details

• Stargazing is free and open to the public. 
• The event is weather permitting. Check this page or @airandspace for the most up-to-date information.
• Bring warm clothes and a small flashlight.  If possible, make your flashlight red by wrapping it in a brown paper bag or red cellophane.
• Parking is free after 4:00 pm. Please park near the south end of the parking lot, and consider dimming your headlights as you approach.
• Stargazing is located at the south end of the Museum's parking lot. Look for staff with red flashlights to help guide you to the telescopes

What's the difference between these telescopes?

Ask your hosts about the kinds of telescopes you'll be using.  If you're considering buying a telescope, check out our advice.

What can we see tonight?

We're planning to observe these celestial wonders:

• Mars, the Red Planet, home of robots like Curiosity
• The Orion nebula, where stars are born
• Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star
• Double stars like Polaris (the North Star) and Sirius (the brightest star in the sky)
• Beautiful star clusters like the Beehive and the Double Cluster
• On your way home, look for the rising Moon!

Find out more about what's up!