Celestial City: Photography exhibition at MIT Wiesner Student Art Gallery

On display at the MIT Wiesner Student Art Gallery, March 1-31, 2024: Celestial City, an exhibition of urban astrophotography by PhD student Evan L. Kramer (Space Systems Lab).

Celestial City is an exploration of the familiar from a new perspective. Few think of photographing astronomical objects in urban, light polluted environments. However, from the vantage point of MIT campus rooftops above street-level light pollution and with specialized photography equipment, the night skies of Cambridge and Boston can be captured in all their glory. The stars, moon, planets, International Space Station, eclipses, meteors, and nebulae are captured in their choreographed celestial dance over the hustle and bustle of city life. Although central to the photographic process, the night sky is not the only focus of the imagery on display. Known worldwide as the hub of innovation, MIT’s iconic structures and people are featured prominently, from the Dome and Green Building to the graduate students in the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department, as fitting foregrounds to this first-of-its-kind exhibit of urban astrophotography.

The exhibition began with an opening reception on Friday, March 1 at the gallery.

Gazing Upwards

On Saturday, March 2, the MIT Museum hosted a special event, Gazing Upwards: Evan L. Kramer in conversation with National Geographic night sky photographer Babak Tafreshi.

Night hides a world but reveals a universe. Through this lens the world’s landmarks connect to celestial wonders, science meets art, and astrophotography contributes to nature conservation.

Tafreshi showcased his world-renowned photography from the World at Night Project, highlighting the need to protect dark night skies while Kramer presented his urban astrophotography featuring cutting-edge research from the perspective of MIT campus building rooftops.