es2534 — Organisation Release
100 hours of astronomy
16 September 2025
ESO Supernova participating in a 100-hour marathon of astronomy events and activities taking place across the world.
100 Hours of Astronomy is a yearly global celebration organised by the International Astronomical Union Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) that invites people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and connect with the night sky — and with the science that helps us understand it. This year, the OAO is teaming up with the International Planetarium Society (IPS) to celebrate also the 100th anniversary of the planetarium during this special event.
From vibrant cities to the most remote corners of the world, this event brings astronomy closer to communities everywhere. Through a variety of activities, 100 Hours of Astronomy aims to spark curiosity, encourages shared exploration of the cosmos, and invites us all to reflect on our place in the Universe.
From Thursday 2 October to Sunday 5 October 2025, a range of engaging activities, both online and in-person, will be offered by observatories, planetariums and astronomers around the world. To find an event near you take a look at the 100 Hours of Astronomy website.
Of course, the ESO Supernova is also participating. On both Friday 3 October and Saturday 4 October, we are open until 20:00. On Friday, in addition to the planetarium show "Worlds beyond Earth" at 17:00, there will also be a live planetarium show, in German, "The Autumn Night Sky" at 18:30. For those who want to know more about ESO, we are happy to be offering a guided tour of the ESO Headquarters for the general public — a guided tour which is normally only available for private groups.
More information
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the international astronomical organisation that brings together about 13,000 distinguished astronomers from around the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers.
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) is a joint project of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). The mission of the OAO is to make astronomy accessible to all through open-accesss astronomical information and quality astronomy communication. The OAO manages the network of IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) who carry out this mission on a global scale through the OAO public engagement initiatives. Through a series of professional development programming, the OAO ensures that astronomy communicators have access to the resources and training they need to best serve their communities.
The International Planetarium Society (IPS) is a global association of planetarium professionals. Its nearly 500 members come from 50 countries, representing schools, universities, museums, and public facilities. The goal of IPS is to support the sharing of ideas through conferences, publications, and networking. Its vision is to be a creative and supportive resource for innovation, advancement, and cooperation among planetariums. Its mission is to provide the planetarium community with professional development, science literacy and humanities awareness, innovative ideas, and partnerships to enhance the world’s appreciation of our universe. The IPS also values science as a way of knowing, inclusivity of and respect for cultures, openness to new ideas, service excellence and leadership in the field.
Contacts
ESO Supernova Planetarium & Besucherzentrum
Garching b. München, Germany
Tel: 08932006900
Email: supernova@eso.org
