Imagine walking to the store for ice cream and running into a free opportunity to view Saturn’s rings. That’s what’s happened for thousands of lucky pedestrians, thanks to #PopScope, the urban astronomy movement.
Now in its 11th year, the volunteer-run group just hit a major milestone: Completing 500 pop-ups that have brought 26,000 people closer to the night sky.
Founded in Ottawa, Ontario in 2014, #popscope (short for pop-up telescope) has expanded to include volunteers in cities across Canada and the U.S. and has hosted pop-ups in Ireland, Malawi, and India.
From the beginning, their urban astronomy model has been simple and powerful: go to a public area, set up an entry-level telescope, point it at an object in the sky, and invite passersby to take a look.
What happens next is magical.
Jaws drop, eyes widen, and whispers are uttered when they encounter our awesome universe.
After initial disbelief that a stranger could be offering something for free, the passerby’s eyes light up when they peer through the eyepiece and see Jupiter’s moons through a light-filled city sky coming into focus.

“The project has been a labor of love—and deep friendships have formed among the group’s volunteers,” co-founder Michael O’Shea told GNN. “We’re motivated by the look of awe on a stranger’s face when they see Saturn’s rings for the first time, or hear cries of delight when someone views the Moon’s bumpy craters in vivid detail.”
What may start as a conversation about the object in the telescope often turns to other topics, like the phases of the Moon, or how the neighborhood is changing, or maybe just the name of their dog.
Often times guests and volunteers become new friends and offer to stay in touch.
“As we celebrate 500 pop-ups, we remember the many snippets of conversation from guests as we huddled around our telescopes. One person even said his uncle was on Apollo 12…
“Here are some of our favorites that made us smile—and think—as we gazed up into the night sky together.
- “I am 55 years old and I’ve never seen anything like this before. Thank you for coming!
- “Saturn rings! They look like an emoji! A Saturn emoji!
- “You made my night…Best thing that happened to me all day.
- “The Moon—It’s like cheese!
- “I might be late for my train, but it was worth it to see the moon!”

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Special donors have supplied funding and equipment over the years, including Celestron, the Awesome Foundation, and the Social Innovation Lab—helping to provide science to communities that are often underserved by academics and institutions.
Chapters have been set up in Montreal, Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia and Jacksonville, Florida.
Who knows whether these encounters will inspire kids to start thinking about becoming astronauts. #Popscope just hopes the kids—and adults—keep looking up.
Visit the group’s website, popscope.org, for updates or to volunteer.
Check out the photos and videos from their 500 events on Flicker—and learn more about the goals and history of the club in this recent article.
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