Become an astronomer and observe the Sun safely with a filtered telescope. Join us outside the Museum entrance to view a variety of features on the Sun. Knowledgeable staff will be there to answer questions and guide observing. This program takes place on the second Saturday of each month.

On this date there will be an annular solar eclipse, when the Moon will partially cover the Sun. The eclipse will be observable between 12:00 pm and 2:39 pm from the Washington, D.C. area, and this program will offer several different ways to view it safely.

If clouds are blocking the view of the sky, find us inside the Museum’s Space Hangar to see images of the Sun taken by a satellite.

Accessibility: Written and touchable explanatory materials are available for learners of all types.

  • Disk view of the Sun with multiple sunspot clusters, individual sunsplots, and prominences of plasma floating above the Sun's surface.
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     The Sun in hydrogen-alpha light, viewed through a safe solar telescope.

  • Sun - February 15, 2011
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    This image of the Sun through a solar telescope reveals several groups of Sunspots. 

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  • Disk view of the Sun with multiple sunspot clusters, individual sunsplots, and prominences of plasma floating above the Sun's surface.
  • Sun - February 15, 2011
Astronomy Sun Telescopes
How to attend Outside