Astronomy on Tap Boston: Cosmic Pitch
When:
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 5:30p -
8:00p
Monday, Jul 13, 2026 5:30p -
8:00p
Where:
Boston Public Market
100 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02108
Admission:
FREE
Hosted by:
Categories:
Good for Groups, Innovation, Kid Friendly, Lectures & Conferences
Event website:
https://astronomyontap.org/event/astronomy-on-tap-boston-cosmic-pitch/
Astronomy on Tap Boston is partnering with NASA Chandra X-Ray Telescope's Cosmic Pitch team to organize an event bringing Astronomy and soccer together, in celebration of the World Cup season! Join us for a family-friendly evening at Boston Public Market on July 13 (5:30-8pm), featuring a talk by NASA visualization expert Kimberly Arcand, interactive space-themed activities with the NASA Chandra team, and soccer & World Cup trivia. Please note that this event is FREE and OPEN FOR ALL AGES! We do not require RSVP and the event is first come first served.
Astronomy on Tap Boston is an outreach initiative to bring space-themed talks from local astronomers to the general public, organized by graduate students at Harvard, MIT, BU, and other local universities. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and BlueSky to get updates on future events!
Tentative Agenda
5:30-6pm Welcome and Astro News
6-6:30pm Kimberly Arcand’s Talk (Cosmic Pitch: Scoring Goals with Deep Space Data)
6:30-7pm Interactive activities with NASA Chandra team (Post-Match Fan Fun Zone: Cosmic Training Camp)
7-8pm Astronomy & Soccer Trivia
Talk Information (Cosmic Pitch: Scoring Goals with Deep Space Data)
Every four years, the world stops for the World Cup. But in the cosmos, a bigger tournament has been playing out for billions of years. Supermassive black holes are the ultimate strikers, blasting energy across galaxies, while supernova remnants act as expanding defenders reshaping the field. How do we keep score?
In NASA visualization expert Kimberly Arcand's talk, we’ll look at the ultimate cosmic “playbook” to see how we process deep space data into spectacular visual field maps. From the physical spin of a curving free kick to a frantic pulsar, and from the violent velocity kicks that launch both a soccer ball and an ultra-dense neutron star through space, you’ll learn what happens when science is truly in play.
Post-Match Fan Fun Zone: Cosmic Training Camp
The final whistle has blown, but the tournament isn’t over! Following the talk, step into the Post-Match Fan Fun Zone for some hands-on activities and giveaways from the Chandra team.
- VIP Pass: Learn the digital playbook and decode the hidden languages of NASA data to create your own binary-code player badge.
- Tactical Chalkboard: Grab your crayons and learn how we assign color palettes to the invisible universe with coloring pages and handouts.
- Trophy Area: Get hands-on with the architecture of a stellar explosion! Touch the actual data by exploring 3D-printed models of supernova remnants you can hold in the palm of your hand.
- VAR Replay Simulation: Put on your virtual space jersey and step inside the data with immersive extended reality (XR) experiences that place you on the cosmic field.
Grab a drink and complete the circuit to claim your spot in the cosmic standings! We will conclude the event with trivia about Astronomy and soccer.
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