Events & Programs

The Harvard Plate Stacks hosts and participates in events and programs locally and globally. Take a look below to learn about the different ways to can connect with our collection and history. 

Upcoming & Current

Deep Field: Dei Vermessung Des Unvorstellbaren

Nov. 6 - May 30, 2027
|
8:00AM - 5:00PM CET
|
Museum Giersch der Goethe-Universität (MGGU)
The Museum Giersch der Goethe-Universität (MGGU) presents a special exhibition, "Deep Field: Measuring the Unimaginable." This exhibition showcases the work of both artists and scientists who explore the concept of measuring the Universe. One of the...
A computer screen filled with different windows showing space imagery

Measuring the Cosmos: From Mandala to the Latent Space

Nov. 7 - Nov 21, 2026
|
2:00PM - 4:00PM EST
|
CAMLab FAS Harvard
Harvard CAMLab presents “Measuring the Cosmos: From Mandala to the Latent Space” This multimedia exhibition presents artworks from numerous artists that explore how celestial bodies and past cosmological events relate to today's digital era. The CAMLab...
Exhibition Poster with a galaxy, mandella, and astrolabe

Recorded Events

Watch recordings and videos from our previous events

Stitched Cosmos

July 6, 2026
|
9:00AM - 6:00PM CEST
Exhibitions Sharing Our Histories Stitched Cosmos is an exhibition featuring the work of Jennifer West. It was curated by the curator duo Francesco Urbano Ragazzi and held at Ca' Foscari University during the 2026 Venice Biennale.
Installation of coloful film in a window of a old Venetian building

Talk: Historic Change: Vera Rubin

June 26, 2025
|
3:00PM - 4:30PM EDT
Historic Change: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Vera Rubin at Harvard's Sanders Theatre Join us for an out-of-this-world program celebrating the release of the new Dr. Vera Rubin quarter! Part of the American Women Quarters™ Program , which...
Vera Rubin quarter

Talk: Artist Ligia Bouton

July 24, 2024
|
1:00PM - 2:00PM EDT
Artist Ligia Bouton will discuss her new art installation, 25 Stars: A Temporary Monument for Henrietta Swan Leavitt, in the MBTA's Kendall/MIT Northbound Subway Station. The artist will give a 45-minute talk about her artistic practice and research into...
Ligia Bouton Installation Photo in MBTA Station

The Art and Story of 'The Fire of Stars'

June 2, 2023
|
5:00PM - 7:00PM EDT
Join Katherine Roy, the award-winning science illustrator of The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of, for an evening that celebrates Harvard's own star scientist, Cecilia Payne. This moving picture...
Cover the book shows Cecilia Payne as a young woman sitting in a tree, looking to the stars.

A Virtual Tour of the Plate Stacks with Sarah Lavallee

June 28, 2022
|
12:00PM - 1:00PM EDT
PHaEDRA Office Hours This is a video tour of the Plate Stacks at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian as part of our monthly Project PHaEDRA Office Hours. There is also an interactive, 360 virtual tour of the Plate Stacks here: https://my...

Previous Events & Programs

Explore previous events with recordings or learn about past exhibitions, talks, and programs. 

Stitched Cosmos

July 6, 2026
|
9:00AM - 6:00PM CEST
|
Università Ca' Foscari
Exhibitions Sharing Our Histories Stitched Cosmos is an exhibition featuring the work of Jennifer West. It was curated by the curator duo Francesco Urbano Ragazzi and held at Ca' Foscari University during the 2026 Venice Biennale.
Installation of coloful film in a window of a old Venetian building

Around Stitched Cosmos

June 29, 2026
|
3:00PM - 6:00PM CEST
|
Università Ca' Foscari, Sala Berengo
Learn about the artwork and current exhibition in Venice by Jennifer West, drawing from her 2025 Smithsonian Art Research Fellowship with the Harvard Plate Stacks. This is the penultimate event surrounding Jennifer West’s exhibition Stitched Cosmos...
Installation of coloful film in a window of a old Venetian building

I ♥ Science at the HMSC

February 7, 2026
|
1:00PM - 4:00PM EST
|
Harvard Museum of Natural History

Meet members of the Harvard Plate Stacks and Harvard Scientists across the University for a day of hands-on activities at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Red heart filled with writing and drawings related to science

Events: Scholar Social: Silent Sky at the Central Square Theater

September 18, 2025
|
9:30PM - 11:00PM EDT
|
Central Square Theater
What did Henrietta Leavitt actually hold in her hands when she made her discoveries? Join Harvard College Observatory curators Thom Burns and Lisa Hees Bravata they share selected original glass plates and notebooks used in Leavitt’s groundbreaking work...

Event: Vera Rubin Discovery Festival

June 26, 2025
|
4:00PM - 7:30PM EDT
|
Science Center Plaza
Join us after the Historic Change: Vera Rubin panel, for a festival in honor of Vera Rubin taking place in the Science Center Plaza. Connect with different groups, organizations, institutions, and museums to learn more about Astrophysics, Women's History...
Vera Rubin Discovery Fair

Talk: Historic Change: Vera Rubin

June 26, 2025
|
3:00PM - 4:30PM EDT
|
Sanders Theatre
Historic Change: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Vera Rubin at Harvard's Sanders Theatre Join us for an out-of-this-world program celebrating the release of the new Dr. Vera Rubin quarter! Part of the American Women Quarters™ Program , which...
Vera Rubin quarter

The Harvard Plate Stacks wants to share as many resources as possible, including highlighting events, exhibitions, talks, and programs hosted by other organizations. Listing an event does not imply or constitute an endorsement, partnership, or sponsorship unless explicitly stated. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on their websites do not necessarily represent those of the Harvard Plate Stacks, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian, or our parent organizations.

Are you featuring items from our collection or sharing the history of Women Astronomical Computers? We would love to know. Email HarvardPlateStacks@CfA.Harvard.edu with information about your event so we can include it in our records and possibly list it here. We cannot list every event, so we prioritize scholarly, innovative, accessible, and free programming.