Downtown Brooklyn, NYC: Astronomy on Tap Turned to Dark Skies at Somethin' Else

Astronomy on Tap NYC, the monthly series that puts working scientists and educators behind a bar microphone, reached its 180th event on the night of October 20 at Somethin' Else, inside DeKalb Market Hall in Downtown Brooklyn. The theme was "The Dark Night," a look at why dark skies matter to astronomers and to everyone else. The listing also said the evening would touch on the night sky as inspiration and on a certain man-bat, a nod to Comic-Con and Halloween season.

Two speakers anchored the program. Kristina Gatto of NOVA spoke about how light pollution affects astronomy and the people who practice it. Steve Mariconda, president of the northern New Jersey chapter of DarkSky International, covered how artificial light touches ecosystems, human health and public safety, along with regional efforts to pass policy encouraging responsible lighting.

Julie Congress, Jordan Barron, Rachael Richman and Aubrey Lace Taylor of No.11 Productions also gave a sneak preview of their new play, Starstuff, which was due to open later this month at 59E59. Attendees were offered $30 seats with the code "AOTStar."

Somethin' Else sits inside DeKalb Market next to the escape room and across from the Jamaican spot, and guests were welcome to carry in food from the market. Doors opened at 7:00 PM, the program began at 7:15 and ran until 9:00. The evening was built around science talks, trivia and prizes, with seats and drinks available to those who arrived early. Admission was free.

The series is free and has spread to cities around the world. In New York it runs on the third Tuesday of each month, with astronomy researchers, professionals, communicators and enthusiasts giving short talks, followed by games with prizes. It returns to the same bar each month.