NAA in the Community
Outreach
We have been sharing our hobby with the public for many years through Public Nights at our observatory, as well as “sidewalk astronomy” on the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville, and at various events held in other towns around the area.
One of the Foundations of Our Club
The NAA’s mission is to share astronomy, in all of its aspects; from the cutting-edge science, to its history, to the workings of the instruments that astronomers use, and, of course, through the many forms of stargazing out under the heavens.
Our events range from staffing STEM tables and presenting to groups to sharing the views through telescopes during the day and at night. They are attended and covered by NAA members who volunteer time to share their interest with the community.
Public Programs
Our programs are almost always open to the public, free of charge. See our Calendar for upcoming activities, and the Directions page for maps.
Public Nights
Free Public Nights on the Naperville Riverwalk during the spring, summer, and fall, offering views of the evening sky through our telescopes to passersby. NAA sets up near the Dandelion Fountain.
Solar Saturdays
Free public observing of the Sun on the Naperville Riverwalk, near the Dandelion Fountain, 9:00 am to noon, weather permitting.
Monthly Meetings
Our monthly meetings always feature a program of some sort on an astronomy-related topic; these are often presented by visiting scientists and lecturers. The public is welcome to attend, free of charge.
Schools & STEM
We bring our telescopes to STEM and STEAM nights, science fairs and family nights at area schools; indoors, we staff STEM tables, and when the sky cooperates, we share the views through telescopes outside.
- An indoor table with pictures, telescopes, and demonstrations
- Safe solar views of the Sun, weather permitting
- Presentations, such as a talk on solar eclipses followed by live views of the Sun
- Telescope views for the school’s families after dark
Our partnership with Waubonsie Valley High School and its planetarium goes back to the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, when we ran a day’s worth of public astronomy activity together. Waubonsie Valley hosts family nights at its own planetarium, and the NAA supports them with telescope views, weather permitting.
Libraries & Community Groups
Libraries, park districts, forest preserves and community groups invite us to set up telescopes, give talks and put up exhibits.
At a library, we begin with a short presentation by club members, then head outdoors to explore the night sky through our telescopes. Talks such as “Successful Suburban Skygazing” are rain or shine; telescope viewing is, as always, weather-dependent.
We provide scopes for park district and forest preserve telescope parties, bring our large telescopes for free viewing at village parks, give indoor presentations and sky gazing at senior living communities, and set up telescopes alongside symphony performances of Holst’s The Planets.
Scouts & Youth Groups
NAA holds events for scouting groups at our Astronomy Education Center, to allow for group viewing at our observatory and an opportunity to learn about constellations and how to observe astronomical objects.
Scout troops look through the Riley Observatory’s telescope, see images from the DuPage Valley Observatory, and try telescopes brought by members on the lawn.
Away from the observatories, we share solar views with scouts at camporees, and have a table at Scouting STEM events.
All of our AEC events are free, but they do depend on the weather, so be sure to check again on the day of the event to be sure it’s happening as scheduled.
Over the Years
Built by Our Volunteers
Our organization has accomplished an amazing amount of public outreach over the 5+ decades that we’ve run an observatory; that success has always been thanks to the partnership that we’ve had with the City of Naperville.
1986
Public observing sessions for Halley’s Comet at Blackwell Forest Preserve turned out, by Forest Preserve District estimates, thousands of people.
2005
The club started regularly holding Solar Saturday public sun viewing sessions along the Naperville Riverwalk.
2007
Each spring and fall, we held a series of Youth Group Friday Evenings at our Astronomy Education Center. By combining various groups together, we could serve more kids more effectively.
2009
We took part in a day’s worth of public astronomy activity as part of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, with Waubonsie Valley High School and its planetarium.
2017
The Susan Carhart Outdoor Classroom was constructed to increase the usefulness of the Astronomy Education Center’s lawn area for public outreach. We gave away over 100 free eclipse glasses to families, and perhaps 100 more to Cub Scouts.
2020
NAA assisted the Adler Planetarium with their live Mars viewing; the sessions had over 12,000 views combined.
2021
Our first public outreach event after the pandemic was scheduled for June 19 in Homer Glen, at Heritage Park.
2025
Construction at the Springbrook Regional Water Reclamation Center temporarily closed our Astronomy Education Center, and Public Nights moved to the Naperville Riverwalk. NAA received a Unistellar eVscope 2 from an anonymous donor, who asked that the club use the smart telescope for public outreach.
2026
Our Astronomy Education Center reopened in June.
Volunteer With Us
Those of us who have helped at public events before know that it is a real gas to show both kids and adults things like the Moon and planets and stars; we get endless, enthusiastic thanks for sharing this simple act.
For events at our observatories, we always need members who don’t have their own telescopes to handle some simple tasks, such as helping kids with the hands-on telescopes and discussing our exhibits. Volunteers are needed and always appreciated.
Request a Session
To schedule a stargazing session for your school, library, community or youth group, contact our Public Outreach Officer, John Ehlert.