The Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park hosts Open Houses at the UMD Observatory on the 5th and the 20th of every month. On Open House evenings a guest speaker will give approximately a half hour talk about a topic in astronomy. The talk is followed by viewing of celestial objects through the observatory's telescopes, weather permitting. If weather does not permit viewing, the talk will still go on as scheduled.

Upcoming Speakers

(download a copy of the Spring 2015 Speaker schedule)

  • Monday, January 5, 8:00 pm
    Dr. Massimo Ricotti on "Formation of the First Galaxies"
    MC: Pradip Gatkine

  • Tuesday, January 20, 8:00 pm
    Prof. Alberto Bolatto on "ALMA: the World's Largest Radio Telescope"
    MC: Zeeve Rogoszinski

  • Thursday, February 5, 8:00 pm
    Elizabeth Warner on "Comets in 2015"
    MC: Amy Steele

  • Friday, February 20, 8:00 pm
    Dr. Peter Teuben on "ALMA and Big Data"
    MC: Krista Smith

  • Friday, March 5, 8:00 pm CANCELED!
    Dr. Drake Deming on "Exoplanets from the TESS Mission"
    MC: Ashlee Wilkins

  • Saturday, March 20, 8:00 pm
    Jessica Slike on "SSL NearSpace Balloon Payload Project"
    MC: Jonathan Nikoleyczik

  • Sunday, April 5, 8:00 pm
    Dr. Dennis Bodewits on "Rosetta Results"
    MC: Katie Jameson

  • Monday, April 20, 8:00 pm
    Dr. Marc Pound on "Women in Astronomy"
    MC: Mahmuda Afrin Badhan