Events

We are at the end of our Public Visitor Night season but have some special events throughout the summer!

Upcoming Event Calendar

Please see our calendar below for a list of upcoming public events. Booking is required for all events through our Eventbrite platform. Tickets are usually released at least two weeks in advance of the event. Keep an eye on the calendar below and our social media for release updates!

---

Public Visitor Nights

Join us at Dunsink Observatory for a night-long celebration of space – from Ireland’s rich and colourful history of exploring the universe, to our role in making future discoveries beyond our atmosphere. Throughout the night we’ll have talks, conversation, demonstrations and, weather permitting, some stargazing – all in the historic surroundings of Dunsink Observatory. Meet the scientists at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies who are expanding our understanding of the universe, the Dunsink team who care for the history and future of the observatory, and the community of astronomers and space fans who help make Dunsink one of the most important sites for space exploration in Ireland.

Visitor Nights are usually held twice a month during the winter months (October – March). Check our calendar above and social media for announcements on upcoming events and open nights.

Weather permitting, visitors can view celestial objects through the historic Grubb Telescope. Please note that telescope observing requires dark skies and so the grounds of the Observatory are not well lit.  As with many historic sites, the paths underfoot can be a bit rough, so wear appropriate footwear and bring a torch if needed.

We are very grateful to the Irish Astronomical Society for their long-standing support with our Open Nights and other events.

---

Annual Events

Culture Night is an open night in mid-September when many public buildings open their doors for the evening.  We run a series of talks and tours of Dunsink on the night.

Early October brings Space Week, closely following in mid-to-late October by Maths Week, and Ireland’s national Science Week runs every year in mid-November.  We support these weeks by running themed visitor nights as well as more special events, including the annual Hamilton Walk to celebrate the contributions of Ireland’s greatest mathematician.

In late February and early March, Engineers Week takes place, where we run a public visitor night with a theme appropriate for the week.

Solarfest is an event run in partnership with amateur astronomers and solar observers that takes place on a weekend around the summer solstice every year (mid-June).  We have a public visitor night on Friday evening, a full day of talks and solar observing (weather permitting) on Saturday, and a family afternoon on Sunday.