Public Events

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) hosts a variety of free programs for the public. Among these events are Observatory Nights, sponsored by the Harvard College Observatory, which feature a nontechnical lecture and telescopic observing from the observatory roof, if the weather permits. These lectures are intended for high-school age and older audiences but children are also welcome. Admission is free; however, tickets are limited and seating is on a first-come basis. These events are held in Phillips Auditorium, 60 Garden St., Cambridge, about one mile west of Harvard Square. Parking lots marked for Observatory staff are open to the public on event nights. Parking is free.

For more information, including accessibility, or to sign up for our events mailing list, please email obsvnight@cfa.harvard.edu.

Over a century ago, Henrietta Swan Leavitt revolutionized astronomy by discovering a powerful link between a star’s brightness and its pulsation period. Her groundbreaking work became the key to measuring vast cosmic distances and ultimately led to the discovery of the universe’s expansion. Now, with modern data, scientists have revisited her research—what new insights have they uncovered? How does her work continue to shape our understanding of the cosmos today?

Join us for an evening of discovery as ESA Research Fellow Louise Breuval (Space Telescope Science Institute) and NSF Fellow Caroline Huang (CfA), present and explore Leavitt’s lasting impact, the latest findings, and how we still use her insights to map the universe. Then, step onto the roof of the Center for Astrophysics for a special stargazing session, where we’ll observe the cosmos just as Henrietta once did—weather permitting.

Jupiter