Sharing the Night Sky with the Public Since 1949

For over seventy-five years, the Denver Astronomical Society has brought together stargazers across the Denver metropolitan area and beyond. The society hosts dozens of events and activities yearly to promote amateur astronomy across our unique region, one mile nearer the stars.

July

8:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Open House

Looking for a FREE fun family activity? Join the Denver Astronomical Society for our monthly Open House Saturday night at dusk. This event will occur on the south lawn of DU’s historic Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 E. Warren Avenue, Denver. Weather … Read More ...

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Celebrating the 2025 Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship Winners

Each year, the Denver Astronomical Society (DAS) awards the Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship to support promising students in astronomy, astrophysics, and related sciences. We are proud to introduce this year’s recipients, each of whom is pursuing their passion for the universe in unique and inspiring ways. Meet the 2025 Scholarship Recipients Jessica JohnsonJessica is a junior at the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in physics with a concentration in astronomy. Inspired by a childhood love of Star Wars, she now pursues her dream of becoming an astronomer/astrophysicist. She is active in the Society of Physics Students, enjoys science fiction, music, and…
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Test Your Eyesight on the Moon: William Henry Pickering’s 12 Features

Who Was William Henry Pickering? William Henry Pickering (1858–1938) was an American astronomer celebrated for his careful studies of the Moon, planets, and comets. He earned his early training at Harvard and later became a professor of astronomy at MIT, where he taught and conducted research for many years. Pickering also played a role in the early development of what would become the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), applying his knowledge of celestial mechanics to space exploration projects. Among his many discoveries, he found Saturn’s moon Phoebe and several comets, and he was an early adopter of photography for astronomical research.…
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What’s Up in Denver? September 15th through 21st, 2025

Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week. September 15: Find the waning crescent Corn Moon near the Shoe-Buckle Cluster (M35), an open star cluster in Gemini in the eastern sky: 2:00 AM September 16: Look for the waning crescent Corn Moon near Jupiter, Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini in the eastern sky: 2:00 AM NASA Night Sky Network Webinar Series: Secrets of the Sun: Developing New Ways to Observe Our Closest Star with Becca Robinson: Youtube Livestream: 7:00 PM September 17: Catch the waning crescent Corn Moon near the Beehive Cluster (M44),…
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Breckenridge Achieves Dark Sky Community Certification

The Town of Breckenridge has officially become a Certified Dark Sky Community, recognized by DarkSky International for its commitment to reducing light pollution and protecting the night sky. This makes Breckenridge the first mountain ski resort community in Colorado to earn this distinction, adding to its long history of environmental stewardship. Where is Breckenridge? Located just 80 miles west of Denver, Breckenridge sits at 9,603 feet in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Known worldwide as a premier ski destination and historic mining town, Breckenridge also manages more than 5,000 acres of open space and 65 miles of trails—making it…
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Chamberlin Observatory Tours

The Denver Astronomical Society hosts weekly and monthly events* at the University of Denver’s historic Chamberlin Observatory, which features its prized 1894 Alvan Clark-Saegmuller 20-inch refracting telescope. The Observatory serves as the DAS home base for numerous Astronomy Nights, Open Houses, and special events throughout the year.

Due to overwhelming demand, we are changing how we reserve our Astronomy Nights and adding more to the calendar. For details, see our Reservations page.

If you have any questions about EXISTING reservations or want to change your existing reservation, email us at reservations@denverastro.org.

M•45 – Pleiades, Seven Sisters, Subaru image by Darrell Dodge

Astrophotography Special Interest Group

The Denver Astronomical Society (DAS) has established a Special Interest Group amongst its members devoted to Astrophotography. Do you want to learn or improve your skills in astrophotography? Do you enjoy viewing pictures of the Sun, Moon, Planets, or Deep Sky Objects? Can you take similar images? You may have skills that you could pass on to novice members. Consider joining DAS and being part of this Special Interest Group. Please email us for more information. astrophotogroup@denverastro.org

The Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship

Established in 1973, the DAS Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship supports graduating high school and undergraduate college students majoring in astronomy and the physical sciences. Interested and eligible students are invited to apply for funding on the Scholarship Page.