Starry Nights: Astronomy Night Kicks Off Its 54th Consecutive Year

When astronomers first observed comet Kohoutek in March 1973, it was farther from the Sun than any comet previously discovered. Predictions were that it would be among the brightest comets ever seen, and the anticipation was high as people around the world clamored for a glimpse of the "Comet of the Century."

To meet this sudden public interest, Stony Brook astronomy professors Deane Peterson and the late Tobias Owen and Michal Simon decided to hold a public lecture one evening in December 1973 to inform the local community about the comet.

The lecture was a success; attendees filled the Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) building lecture hall, later viewing the skies through a 12-inch reflecting telescope.

"The lecture was so successful that we added a second lecture a week later," said Peterson, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Though Kohoutek proved to be a dud as a comet, the growing interest in astronomy only a few years after the Moon landings - and the public's desire to view the skies through the telescope - was the genesis of Stony Brook's Astronomy Open Night program. It begins its remarkable 54th consecutive year on September 4 with, "The Lives of Stars," presented by Alan Calder, a professor in the Astronomy Group within the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Astronomy Open Night is a public lecture series that takes place on the first Friday of each month during the semester. Talks begin at 7:30 pm in lecture hall ESS 001 and last 45 minutes, followed by questions from the audience. Lectures are presented by astronomy faculty and occasional guest lecturers on a topic of their choosing, ranging from descriptions of cutting-edge astronomy performed at Stony Brook University, to public policy in science, popular current topics and the search for aliens. Weather permitting, after the formal part of the lecture, the Stony Brook Undergraduate Astronomy Club leads stargazing on the rooftop of the ESS building.

Simon Birrer, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and current organizer of the lecture series, describes the Astronomy Open Night series as a continuing success story.

"We have a lot of regulars attending every month, and the events frequently exceed 50 people in attendance," said Birrer. "We have a diverse audience, ranging from families with children, undergraduate students, locals to senior amateur astronomy veterans."

"Even after a good few years of doing these, I still feel excited at the start of each year of our Astronomy Open Nights," said Calder. "Of course, I am a little biased, but astronomy is interesting and downright fun, and it is very rewarding to see people learn and grow excited by our efforts."

Birrer joined Stony Brook as an assistant professor in January 2023, inheriting Astronomy Open Night and its long history. He attributes the event's popularity to the strong commitment of the faculty and Undergraduate Astronomy Club.

Before each semester, Birrer reaches out to schedule the lectures. "I don't have to twist many arms, because this series is deeply engrained in the culture of the astronomy faculty at Stony Brook," he said, noting that some of his colleagues have been volunteering for more than a decade. "The speakers are really keen to talk about the latest developments in research, new instruments and new observations. That kind of commitment to the public really shows what we do here in the department."

Recently retired professor Fred Walter is one of those committed speakers.

"The challenge in an Open Night lecture is to reach those who are fascinated by the cosmos, but do not have much if any scientific background," said Walter. "The fun part is that there are regulars who are willing to challenge you. The satisfying aspect comes from being able to communicate our science to a receptive audience."

Walter presented more than 30 Open Night lectures before retiring in 2025.

"I covered a diverse set of topics ranging from the formation of stars to light pollution to the initial results from Hubble Space Telescope and on to the X-ray universe," he said. "The best attended of my lectures were those on astrology, the science of science fiction, and the total eclipses of the Sun."

"It's a really fun challenge to find a way to share your research with a clever audience that, nonetheless, are not experts with formal training in astronomy," said associate professor Will Farr. "The Open Night audience always asks deep and insightful questions; they are really engaged with the material and eager to learn about frontiers in astronomy. It's a great tradition."

"The actuality of the lecture matters," added Birrer. "The solar eclipse in 2024 got a dedicated lecture, as well as when the Vera Rubin Observatory presented its first images in 2025. If something big is happening, we try to accommodate it."

Birrer also acknowledged the important role of the Undergraduate Astronomy Club. "They put up their telescopes at every Open Night, and show equal frustration when the weather does not allow us to show the beautiful night sky to the audience."

Suffolk County Community College offers courses that give partial credit for attending.

Walter emphasized that communicating effectively is critical to fostering an understanding of science, but is an area in which too many scientists fall short.

"We sit in our cluttered offices doing the hard work of science, and then completely forget to inform the public of why and how we do what we do, and why it is important for society at large," Walter said. "Outreach to the public has been neglected. How can we complain that our research is not being supported when we have failed to communicate to the public what we do? Since 1975 the Astronomy Open Nights have made an effort to do exactly that. May it continue for another 50 years."

Visit the Astronomy Open Night website for more information, including the current schedule, an archive of past talks, and a link to sign up for e-mail notifications of upcoming lectures.

- Robert Emproto