About Us

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is one of the premier scientific research institutions in the world, featuring researchers working on a variety of topics throughout the sciences. Astronomers at Caltech are keen on communicating the wonders of astronomy to you! Our events are organized by Dr. Cameron Hummels and staffed by volunteers from the Caltech Astronomy community including students, postdocs, staff, and faculty who are passionate about public education.

Our primary activities include our monthly Stargazing Lecture Series, our monthly Astronomy on Tap events, frequent Guerilla Astronomy activities, and assisting at science fairs, conventions, and school visits where we can. We also co-organize numerous Dark Sky Festivals including those at Death Valley and Sequoia National Parks. You can keep updated on current and future outreach events by checking our Upcoming Events page or following us at our various social media outlets on the web. All of our events are free and open to all.

If you have questions about astronomy in general, we suggest attending one of our events either in-person or live-streamed on YouTube. Our Stargazing Lectures each have an expert Q&A panel consisting of astrophysicists to answer your questions about astrophysics and space science.

For outreach-related requests, please email: outreach-admin [at] astro.caltech.edu.

Related outreach programs:

• Public events at Caltech.
• JPL Education from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Carnegie Observatories host a number of excellent public education events throughout the year.
• Activities from the Caltech Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach
• The Caltech Classroom Connection strives to create sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships between Caltech volunteers and local educators.
• The Palomar Observatory is one of the leading astronomical observatories in the world. Located in north San Diego county, California, they have a variety of outreach activities available for the public.
• The Keck Telescopes in Hawaii are among the most powerful optical telescopes in the world. Check out their outreach page for details on public lectures, class visits and field trips.
• The Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) is one of the largest university-operated radio observatories in the world. The observatory is located near Bishop, California, approximately 250 miles north of Los Angeles on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. They offer public tours of the observatory, public lecture series, and resources for educators.