SUNSET: 
Upcoming Astronomy Events
As a service to our community, Sky & Telescope lists astronomy-related events, including star parties, observatory public nights, astronomy talks, and more. Star parties offer dark skies and astronomical fellowship and often cater to families and feature special activities for kids. Public nights give the general public a chance to view the sky through large telescopes, and public talks are a great place to learn the fundamentals of the science and the craft.
You’ll also see online events offered here.
And if you’d like free copies of Sky & Telescope‘s Let’s Go Stargazing flyer or door prizes for your next star party, you can fill out this form.
Hofstra University’s Astronomy Festival on the National Mall (AFNM)
June 25, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm EDT
Free
Hofstra University’s Astronomy Festival on the National Mall (AFNM) in Washington, DC, offers visitors a free guided tour of the sky on Saturday, June 25, from 6-11 p.m. This year’s festival, the first since 2019, is presented in association with Smithsonian Solstice Saturday and is organized by Dr. Donald Lubowich, Hofstra’s Coordinator of Astronomy Outreach. AFNM features solar, optical, and radio telescope observations; hands-on activities, demonstrations, handouts, posters, banners, and videos; speakers from scientific and educational organization, and a chance to mingle with astronomers.
Dr. Lubowich and local amateur astronomers will set up 35 telescopes on the National Mall, from Third-Fourth Streets SW, across from the National Museum of the American Indian. Starting at 6 p.m., visitors may view sunspots with the help of specially filtered telescopes. After dusk and through 11 p.m. telescopes will provide close-up views of colorful double stars, remnants of dying stars, nebula, and star clusters that sparkle like diamonds on black velvet.
AFNM visitors may meet representatives from some of the nation’s foremost scientific institutions, organizations, and universities, who will present exciting demonstrations and answer questions about the latest astronomical discoveries and careers in science.
AFNM started as part of a NASA-funded “Music and Astronomy Under the Stars” program, that was co-sponsored by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It brought an astronomy component to outdoor concerts throughout the US.
Watch for event updates at hofstra.edu/dcstars. The closest metro stop to the event site is Federal Center SW.
Participating science organizations: American Association of Physics Teachers, Ball Aerospace & Technology, Carnegie Science/Carnegie Academy for Science Education, Chandra X-ray Observatory & NASA's Universe of Learning, the Solar Eclipsemobile, International Dark Sky Association, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, International Occultation Timing Association, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, National Air and Space Museum, National Center Earth Space Science Education, NSF’s NOIRlab, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, National Science Foundation, The Planetary Society, Space Telescope Science Institute (HST), the Trust for the National Mall, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
Additional participating schools, colleges and universities: Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, George Mason University, Montgomery College, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Participating astronomy clubs and organizations: Amateur Observers’ Society of NY, Goddard Astronomy Club, National Capital Astronomers, Northern Virginia Astronomy Club.
