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.

June

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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Make Your Telescope Smart for Free!

The Mighty Reflector If you’re just starting out in astronomy, chances are someone has recommended a reflector telescope — and likely it was a Dobsonian. Dobsonians are a type of reflector telescope that uses a simple mount to operate and mirrors to gather and focus light. They are popular because they are inexpensive relative to their aperture (the size of the mirror), easy to set up and use, and provide great views of the night sky. John Dobson revolutionized amateur astronomy in 1965 when he designed an affordable and simple alt-azimuth (alt-az) mount that made it easy to move the…
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The 2025 DAS Spring Banquet, Election, Awards, and Presentation

Annual Spring Banquet Every year in mid-March, the Denver Astronomical Society (DAS) gathers for its Annual Spring Banquet. This special event is a time to celebrate the Society’s accomplishments, welcome newly elected board members and trustees, and honor dedicated members with awards. The evening also features a fascinating presentation from a guest speaker. This year, the banquet took place on Saturday, March 15th, at the Embassy Suites in the Denver Tech Center. Elections Each year, the DAS holds elections to choose new Executive Board members and officers. The current president appoints an Election Chairperson who is not a member of…
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Get Ready for Galaxy Season!

A Brief History of Galactic Observation The Andromeda Galaxy, the closest large galaxy to our own Milky Way, has been visible to the naked eye for as long as humans have gazed at the stars. The first recorded observation dates back to 964 CE when the Persian astronomer Al-Sufi described it as a “little cloud.” For centuries, observers believed it was simply a cloud or a smudge in the sky. In the 1700s, French astronomer Charles Messier cataloged many deep-space objects, 40 of which are now known to be galaxies. However, Andromeda, which he designated M31, along with the other…
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What’s Up in Denver? March 17th through 23rd, 2025

Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week. March 17: The Moon reaches apogee (252,123 miles / 405,754 km away – its farthest distance from Earth in its elliptical orbit): 10:00 AM. St. Patrick’s Day March 18: Astronomical Observing 101 Class: 7:00 PM at Secular Hub Community Center (Registration Required). Astrophotography Special Interest Group (ASIG) – General Meeting for DAS Members: 7:00 PM (more info). March 19: Neptune in Conjunction with Sun – The ice giant won’t be visible as it moves across the sky next to the sun during daylight hours. March…
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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.