To complement our rigorous teaching curriculum and extensive research programs, the University of Minnesota Astronomy Department is heavily involved in a public outreach program. Every Friday night during the academic school year we hold public viewings of the night sky on the roof of the Tate Laboratory of Physics. During the summer months we travel to various Minnesota State Parks to give a short presentation followed by telescope viewing. If you are someone who is interested in learning about the various topics of astronomy, these are excellent opportunities to do so and our staff of graduate students are more than happy to answer your questions.
However, our public outreach program does not end with these two public viewing events. We take it a step further by offering our services (free of charge) to groups who are looking for a more personalized event to suit their particulary interests. These groups include schools, churches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, rotary clubs, senior citizens, etc. In most cases, we will travel to your location. The event can consist of a class on a particular subject, telescope viewing, hands-on demonstrations, or anything else that is feasible. As examples, in the past we have done talks on the solar system, galaxies, formation of the Universe, and the history of astronomy. The possibilites are endless!
Each year, the Astronomy Department faculty and staff make over 60 public presentations on astronomy topics. To request a visit by an astronomer for a school or group, contact our Public Outreach Coordinator. We try our best to meet the needs of any group that contacts us, but we are limited by the number of graduate students. At times during the year they can be very busy. Please call about one month in advance of your desired event. This will ensure that we have sufficient time to organize on our end.
Please contact our Public Outreach Coordinator if you would like to organize an event.