Kids Academy offers an alternative to the Observatory Night lectures, which are intended for adults. Children ages 8 to 13 are welcome to these fun and interactive programs. At each event, a brief presentation will introduce that night's featured sky object. Then, we will climb to the roof to view through telescopes. On cloudy or rainy nights, we will offer an indoor program and online access to the SLOOH telescope network. No reservations or tickets are required. Doors open at 7:30 pm and programs begin promptly at 8:00 pm. Parking is free.

Thursday, May 1, 2008 "Do-It-Yourself Astronomy," Meredith Hughes, CfA Here's your chance to practice using binoculars and telescopes to explore the wonders of the night sky. Learn where in the sky to find the jewels of binocular astronomy and the basics of how to use a telescope to navigate through the heavens. Cloudy or clear, get hands-on experience with some of our telescopes, and see for yourself how lenses and mirrors work to make the universe come into focus.

Kids Academy is held in the Phillips Auditorium at the CfA, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, about 1 mile west of Harvard Square. No reservations are necessary, but seating is limited to the auditorium's capacity. Entrance is at the west of the CfA complex, near Madison Street and large parking lot. The CfA is easily reached by public transportation. From the Harvard MBTA Station (Red Line), take any bus or trackless trolley going west on Concord Avenue (Arlmont Village and Belmont Center buses, Huron Avenue trolleys) and get off at "Observatory Hill." Additional directions are available.

For more information, including accessibility, or to sign up for the events mailing list, call the Public Affairs Office, (617) 495-7461 or email pubaffairs@cfa. Please request sign-language interpretation at least 2 weeks before the event. Current sky information is available.