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 ...

View Detail

March’s Night Sky Notes: Messier Madness

This article is distributed by NASA’s Night Sky Network (NSN). The NSN program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more! By Kat Troche March is the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere; with that, the hunt for Messier objects can begin! During the 18th century, astronomer and comet hunter Charles Messier wanted to distinguish the ‘faint fuzzies’ he observed from any potential new comets. As a result, Messier cataloged 110 objects in the night sky, ranging from star clusters to galaxies to nebulae. These items are…
Click here to read more
Will an Asteroid Hit the Earth in 2032?

Why Do Astronomers Study Asteroids? Asteroids are space rocks that orbit the Sun, just like planets. Some come close to Earth, and astronomers want to track them to make sure they don’t pose a danger. Professional astronomers use powerful telescopes to discover and monitor asteroids, while amateur astronomers can also help by watching the night sky. Studying asteroids helps scientists understand how our solar system formed and protects our planet from potential collisions. What is Asteroid 2024 YR4? Asteroid 2024 YR4 was discovered in December 2024 by astronomers tracking near-Earth objects. At first, scientists thought there was a 3.1% chance…
Click here to read more
Is Betelgeuse Going to Explode?

What is Betelgeuse? Not to be confused with Beetlejuice, the Michael Keaton character from the 1988 cult comedy-horror classic, Betelgeuse is one of the biggest and brightest stars in the night sky. It is a red supergiant, a type of star that is near the end of its life. Betelgeuse is enormous compared to our Sun. It has a diameter of about 1,400 times that of the Sun, meaning if it were placed in the center of our solar system, it would extend beyond the orbit of Jupiter. It is also about 15 to 20 times more massive than the Sun.…
Click here to read more
Feb 28th Planet Parade?

What’s this about a planet parade? On Feb 28, up until about 6:28 pm MT, all of the planets in our solar system will align on the same side of the Sun above the horizon, possibly giving some lucky viewers a chance to see all of them simultaneously. Late February, however, is one of the more difficult times of the year to spot Uranus and Neptune, as their visibility is limited. You’ll need very clear and dark skies to see them. While they’ll be visible, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to see them with the naked eye, and even telescopic…
Click here to read more

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.