Public Astronomy Lectures, Stargazing and Outreach Events

Upcoming Events Open to the Public

• Weekly Stargazing Nights on Boise State’s Quad or at Boise State’s Observatory (weather permitting)
• First Friday Astronomy Lectures
  • Stellar Collective will be holding an Astronomy Citizen Science Conference at Boise State on Friday, October 3rd, from 2:00 pm MT to 9:30 pm MT! This event is open to the public. Tickets are FREE, but must be reserved through their website which can be found here: https://www.stellarcollective.io/.
• International Observe the Moon Night
  • Join us for a fun “moongazing” event! International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon!
  • Our event will be held on Boise State’s Quad on Saturday, October 4, 2025. We will begin at 7 pm MT. Please note, this event is weather permitting.

Scroll down for a more in depth look at our upcoming events!

Public Astronomy Lectures

Boise State Department of Physics invites you to join the First Friday Astronomy.

First Friday Astronomy is open to the public and happens every first Friday (even in the summer months).

Lectures start at 7:30 pm (MT) in the Education Building, room 112. Events are open to the public and donation-supported.

You can donate at boi.st/astronomy and live-stream at boi.st/astrobroncoslive.

Fall 2025

List of presenters:

1. Sept 5, 2025 – Dr. Steve Swanson, Boise State Distinguished Educator in Residence & NASA Astronaut – Living and Working in Space. Following this lecture, you’re invited to a special “Moon Tree” planting event!
2. Oct 3, 2025 – Drs. Ariel Graykowski, Rachel Huchmala & Patrick Treuthardt – Citizen Science. This lecture will be held in the Boise State Student Union Building (SUB), Special Events Center (SpEC), as part of the Stellar Collective, a citizen science conference.
3. Nov 7, 2025 – Dr. Joe Spitale, Senior Scientist, SETI Institute – Mapping and Interpreting Enceledus’ Eruptive Activity Throughout the Cassini Era
4. Dec 5, 2025 – Dr. David Vartanyan, Assistant Professor, University of Idaho – From Stellar Death to Cosmic Rebirth: 60 Years of Supernova Study

For more information, head to Seminars and Events.

Visit the Observatory

The Observatory will be open on Friday nights just after sunset (view sunset times) until midnight, if the weather permits. Announcements will be made each Friday at 12:00 pm MT to let the public know if the Observatory will be open or closed, and what time to arrive.

We will do our very best to make your Observatory experience an enjoyable event filled with the wonders of the night sky.

For more information, head to Visit the Observatory

Stargazing and Outreach Events

What is AstroTAC?

Our Astronomers in Training Assisting the Community (AstroTAC) team consists of Boise State University students who provide outreach opportunities for the public.

From unique hands-on activities to a mobile planetarium, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Through outreach, AstroTAC is able to provide access of NASA educational material to rural and remote communities, schools, and families.  AstroTAC’s mission aims to bring STEM education into both rural and urban schools, sparking curiosity for our future’s next generation of scientists.

Partnered with educational professionals within Boise State’s College of Education, students also work to create engaging material that embodies Idaho’s science standards. For more information regarding this partnership, visit our page K-12 Teaching Resources.

We have a variety of event options for educators to choose from! In addition, AstroTAC is also happy to work with educators to create new content that best suits their needs. Explore all that the team has to offer below and when you’re ready, visit the Contact Us page to plan your outreach event.