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

Venus is Earth's closest neighbor and nearly identical in size — so why did it become a scorching hellscape while Earth became a paradise for life? In this class, we'll explore the bizarre world of Venus: its crushing atmosphere, runaway greenhouse effect, and strange retrograde rotation. We'll also look at what Venus may teach us about climate, planetary evolution, and the search for life elsewhere in the solar system. 

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

Stars are rarely born alone. From the nearby Pleiades to the dense globular clusters orbiting the heart of our galaxy, star clusters come in stunning variety — and they hold some of astronomy's best secrets. In this class, we'll explore the two main types of clusters, what they tell us about stellar age and evolution, and how astronomers use them as cosmic measuring sticks. We'll also highlight clusters visible in June's night sky. 

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