Super Stellar Fridays

On the 1st Friday of the month, enjoy an evening exploring science with Discovery Center educators and special guest speakers through live programs, planetarium shows, and sky viewing with the NH Astronomical Society.

Celestial Navigation and New England History  

Next Super Stellar Friday - Friday, October 3rd, 2025

Presentation Description:  Hundreds of New England ships crossed the globe hunting whales in the barbarous "whale fishery" in the 19th century. They were guided by the best science of the era, using exact models of the Moon's motion and the Sun's declination to sail tens of thousands of miles. Astronomy in New England thrived with the whaling industry, and that legacy continues even in Silicon Valley today. Join us for a fascinating exploration of the connection between whaling and astronomy with a true master of the stars.

Special Guest Speaker Description: Frank Reed is one of the world's leading experts on the science and history of celestial navigation, especially the practice of "lunars". Frank has been a guest on Neil deGrasse Tyson's "StarTalk", NPR's "Here and Now", and his analysis of lunar occultations was recently featured in "National Geographic" magazine.

Recommended for all ages.

Please note before purchasing your Super Stellar Friday tickets:

Ticket costs include admission to the presentation, exhibit galleries, and a planetarium show. Tickets for this event can be purchased at the front desk on the night or before the event online.

Schedule

  • 6:30 pm: Discovery Center opens, exhibit galleries available for exploration

  • 7:00 pm: Speaker Presentation

  • 8:00 pm: Planetarium Show

  • 9:00 pm: Sky Viewing with New Hampshire Astronomical Society (weather permitting)

Ticket Pricing

  • Adult: $13.00

  • Child (3-12): $10.00

  • Senior (62+): $12.00

  • Students (13-college): $12.00

  • EBT/SNAP/WIC Card Holders + Up To 5 Guests: $3.00 (Use code “4ALLSSF” at checkout!)

  • Members and Child Under 2: Free!

A promotional poster for 'Ask the Astronomer,' offering free telescope guidance every Friday, featuring a starry night sky background, orange text, and an illustration of a person looking through a telescope, with a New Hampshire Astronomical Society logo.

In addition to NHAS’s monthly sky watch, get your telescope questions answered by a professional astronomer, whether you need help with your current scope, advice on purchasing one, or tips on how to observe celestial wonders. In the event of inclement weather, an NHAS member will still be present to assist with astronomy or telescope related inquiries. This program is free to attend, but regular admission applies for the featured Super Stellar Friday program.

Can’t make it in person?

We are no longer offering a livestream of the presentation portion of Super Stellar Friday presentations. We apologize for the inconvenience! Presentations will be available on the Discovery Center’s YouTube channel within a few days.

Please consider making a donation to support future programming like this—thank you!