Star Party: James Webb Space Telescope First Image Release Event

**Due to the forecasted rain tonight, we anticipate that we will not have telescopes on our observation deck.

Join us for our next in-person Star Party! Out on our roof deck, we'll have our telescopes set up to observe the Moon and our favorite deep space objects (weather permitting). Inside, you can explore hands-on activities, and our expert astronomy team will guide you through the night sky and highlight cosmic sights in our planetarium.

Special theme: JWST First Image Release Event

FAQ

What is a Star Party?

A Star Party is an evening of astronomical celebration, exploration, and fun. At a Star Party, you’ll find hands-on activities and demonstrations from Bell educators and community partners throughout the museum. If there are clear skies, you will be able to look through high-powered telescopes at astronomical objects. Additionally, there are typically free planetarium shows that are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Oftentimes, Star Parties have special themes or topics.

What time should I be there?

There is no official “start” to the party—you can drop in anytime during the window of time listed above.

Will there be planetarium shows?

Oftentimes, there are free, first-come-first-serve planetarium shows. However, at this specific Star Party, there will be an ongoing stream of the new James Webb Space Telescope images—just drop by the planetarium to see!

Is the event weather dependent?

The event is rain or shine, however, the telescopes are not. If there is rain or cloudy skies, there will not be telescopes outside—but there will be plenty to see inside the museum!

Will this event also be offered virtually?

This event is only offered in-person and not virtually. If you are looking for virtual astronomy content, you can check out some of our pre-recorded Virtual Star Parties on our YouTube channel!