Earth is surrounded by thousands of active satellites—and millions of pieces of debris. This class explores how satellites power modern life, from communication to navigation, and the growing challenge of keeping orbit safe and sustainable. Discover the hidden world above our heads and what it means for the future of space exploration.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class. Members $20/class.  Student (with valid ID) $10/class

They're not just cosmic debris — asteroids are time capsules from the birth of our solar system, and the asteroid belt is one of its most fascinating neighborhoods. In May, one of the belt's largest inhabitants, the asteroid Vesta, is at its brightest in the night sky — making this the perfect moment to take a peek. We'll tour the belt, meet some of its most remarkable residents, and discover what missions like Dawn and Psyche are revealing about these ancient worlds. Join us and find out why asteroids are anything but ordinary!

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets:  Non-members - $25/class, Members - $20/class, Student (with valid ID) $10

Every spring, as the Milky Way's dusty band sinks below the horizon, a remarkable window opens up — one that lets us peer far beyond our own galaxy into a vast sea of other worlds. The constellation Virgo and its neighbors host one of the largest concentrations of galaxies visible from Earth, and May is the ideal month to find them. We'll take a guided tour of the spring constellations, learn how to spot the famous Virgo Cluster, and discover why seasoned observers circle "galaxy season" on their calendars every year. 

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets: Non-members $25/class, Members $20/class, Student (with valid ID) $10/class

Image credit: Fernando Pena

For a fraction of a second — or maybe a few minutes — a gamma-ray burst can outshine everything else in the observable universe combined. These staggering explosions were one of astronomy's greatest mysteries when first discovered, and even today they're keeping scientists up at night. We'll explore what causes these cosmic detonations, how astronomers detect them across billions of light-years, and what the latest observations from JWST are teaching us about the universe's most extreme events.

Class level: Introductory - This class is recommended for guests of any background.

Tickets:  Non-members - $25/class, Members - $20/class, Student (with valid ID) - $10/class