Astronomy Live: The Scientific Discoveries Led by Citizen Scientists

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

7:30 pm

So-called "yellowballs" - an intermediary stage of star formation - appear as abstract blobs amid swirls of green and red, against a dark background.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Ever wondered how you can aid NASA in making new scientific discoveries?  

Join Jackie Faherty, associate curator in the Museum’s Department of Astrophysics, to discover how everyday people are making extraordinary contributions to astronomy through hands-on participation in real scientific research. This program explores the groundbreaking discoveries made by citizen scientists, from identifying new exoplanets to tracking distant stars and galaxies. Learn how public collaboration with professional astronomers is accelerating our understanding of the universe and hear from current volunteers about their essential work. 

This program utilizes OpenSpace software supported by NASA under award No NNX16AB93A. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.