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 Liberal Arts Building (LART), room 106. Events are open to the public and donation-supported.
You can donate at boi.st/astronomy and live-stream at boi.st/astrobroncoslive.
Spring 2025
List of presenters:
- January 3, 2025 – Professor James Dull, Professor of Physics, College of Idaho – Burning Bright: Exploring Be stars and their Mysteries from our Campus Observatory
- February 7, 2025 – Dr. Christopher S. Moore, Researcher at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics – Launching Astrophysics Telescopes and Detectors with Rockets and Small Satellites
- March 7, 2025 – Dr. Rachel Smith, Head, Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab and Curator of Meteorites, NC Museum of Natural Sciences – From New Stars to the Edge of the Universe: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and our Cosmic Origins
- April 4, 2025 – Professor John E. Moores, Director, Graduate Program in Earth and Space Sciences at York University – Daydreaming in the Solar System: Exploring the Planets with our Five Senses
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.