From amateur astronomers to Northwestern undergraduates to little kids who are seeing a telescope for the first time, CIERA Astronomer Evenings offer something to everybody of all ages and knowledge levels.
Astronomer Evenings take place on the last Friday of each month at the Dearborn Observatory. As the sky darkens, come in to chat with CIERA’s own astronomers about any astronomy questions you’re curious about. After expert volunteers introduce a topic, the evenings go into free-flowing discussions, open Q&As, and interactive demonstrations of astronomical topics – as well as a chance to view the stars through Dearborn’s historic telescope dating back to the 1860s.
Astronomer Evenings started in 2015 to celebrate the centennial of Albert Einstein’s landmark papers on general relativity. It takes place concurrently with Dearborn Observatory’s weekly public viewing sessions, a tradition that’s been ongoing for over 100 years.
Since 2019, dozens of people have been coming to converse with astronomers every month, walking away with new knowledge about the cosmos under their belts. And for volunteers, evenings are also a fun chance to connect with Evanston’s community and think through scientific questions – no matter how big, small, or wild.
“It’s definitely for all ages and experience levels. 100% it is for people who have never opened a science book and for people who are scientists themselves.”
– lead organizer Chase Kimball
Feel free to stop by any time during the two-hour window! No payment or reservations needed. During the spring/summer, it’s from 9:00 – 11:00 PM. During the fall/winter, it’s from 8:00 – 10:00 PM.
To learn more about Dearborn Observatory and Friday night viewings, visit the observatory website here.
Dearborn Observatory Address:
2131 Tech Drive
Evanston, IL, 60208
