April 26, 2013
Turn your gaze upwards this evening with the Philadelphia Science Festival’s epic evening of backyard astronomy. Tonight, Friday, April 26, join astronomy-lovers across the Greater Philadelphia area during the annual Astronomy Night. Note that the free family-friendly festivities start a little earlier this year, as guests are encouraged to do some sun gazing beginning at [...]
Read more»April 17, 2013
One of the Philadelphia Science Festival’s most epic events is back for the 2013 festival. On Friday, April 26, join stargazers across the Greater Philadelphia area at the annual Astronomy Night. Locations ranging from Fishtown’s Frankford Hall (stein, anyone?) to Swarthmore College on the Main Line will serve as hosts for the exciting event. Each [...]
Read more»March 11, 2013
Learn and view some of space’s stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies on the second Thursday of each month at the Franklin Institute’s Joel N. Bloom Observatory. Night Skies in the Observatory will be led by the Franklin Institute’s Chief Astronomer, Derrick Pitts on the second Thursday of each month. Check out the March event on [...]
Read more»December 6, 2012
Events as exclusive as this one are normally only open for members of The Franklin Institute, but this weekend they are extending this cool astronomical event to all. Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts, who has been seen on The Colbert Report and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, will be hosting two special workshops on [...]
Read more»September 26, 2012
Update: Due to projected inclement weather, Planetarium on the Parkway has been rescheduled for Friday, October 12. The Franklin Institute is kicking their popular “Night Skies In The Observatory” series up a notch with a special edition in conjunction with Open Air. On Tuesday, October 2 at 8:30 p.m., the Franklin Institute’s Chief Astronomer (and [...]
Read more»August 30, 2012
On Thursday, September 13 from 7-10 p.m., you’ll have the opportunity to take part in the Franklin Institute’s excellent “Night Skies In The Observatory” event series. Hosted by Chief Astronomer at The Franklin Institute, Derrick Pitts, the event keeps the Joel N. Bloom Observatory open late to the public and offers five different telescopes for [...]
Read more»May 29, 2012
Every life is full of great firsts: a first word, a first kiss, even a first time on a roller coaster, or skydiving. But how about awesome events that are (almost certainly) lasting? June 5, it turns out, will be a monumental one of those. It’s the only time for the next 105 years that [...]
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Watch today’s Philly 101 video to meet one of Philadelphia’s beloved public figures, Derrick Pitts, the Chief Astronomer at the Franklin Institute.
The Franklin Institute’s Joel N. Bloom Observatory, operated and maintained by Pitts and his staff, treats visitors to day and nighttime viewing with its 10-inch Zeiss refractor and four Celestron CPC 800 GPS Computerized Telescopes. The instruments provide visitors with views of most planets and bright stars, several star clusters and nebulae and even a few galaxies.
It is also one of a handful of observatories in the whole country to provide optically safe, real-time direct observation of solar activity. Pretty cool.
Meet Derrick and find out what he wishes more people knew about in Philadelphia, and why.
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Watch today’s Philly 101 video to meet one of Philadelphia’s beloved public figures, Derrick Pitts, the Chief Astronomer at the Franklin Institute. The Franklin Institute’s Joel N. Bloom Observatory, operated and maintained by Pitts and his staff, treats visitors to day and nighttime viewing with its 10-inch Zeiss refractor and four Celestron CPC 800 GPS [...]
Read more»April 25, 2012
This Friday, April 27 more than 20 venues in and around Philadelphia will be hosting special stargazing sessions as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival’s second annual Astronomy Night. Professional and amateur astronomers will be on hand at each of the locations to help show visitors what’s visible in the Philadelphia night sky at this [...]
Read more»December 12, 2011
In honor of the holidays, the Franklin Institute is opening its popular Joel N. Bloom Observatory to the public every night during the week of December 26-30. Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. that week, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see the night sky from the rooftop of the Franklin Institute. The observatory [...]
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