by Chad Jocius | Aug 30, 2025 | Education, Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Friday, November 7 (9:00 pm – 11:00 pm)
Come out to the Heide Observatory for an evening focused on the planets under darker skies—no Moon this time, which means better contrast for distant worlds. Weather permitting, we’ll feature the gas and ice giants through our telescopes: Saturn and its rings, Jupiter with its cloud belts and Galilean moons, plus Uranus and Neptune.
Given clear skies, these targets will be positioned well for evening viewing. We’ll confirm the exact lineup in the event-day email based on visibility.
This event may need to be rescheduled if the cloud cover outlook is over 40%—please watch for a confirmation email from the observatory.
Dress appropriately for nighttime outdoor weather.
Questions about this event or others? Observatory@hawthornhollow.org
Find tickets here!
Questions about this event or others please contact us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org
by Chad Jocius | Aug 30, 2025 | Education, Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Friday, November 21 (8:00 pm – 10:00 pm)
Come out to the Heide Observatory to observe the Moon in the evening sky as it guides you to Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus—the gas and ice giants of our solar system. Given clear skies, these bright worlds are easy to spot in our telescopes, and the Moon (the night’s second-brightest object) makes star-hopping simple.
This event may need to be rescheduled if the cloud cover outlook is over 40%—watch for a confirmation email.
Dress for nighttime outdoor weather.
Get tickets here!
Questions? Observatory@hawthornhollow.org
by William Parker | Aug 30, 2025 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Tuesday (November 25) 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what someone standing in the same spot in the past saw and thought when they looked up?
500 years ago contact between Europeans and Indigenous Americans of the time changed the world, resulting in the collapse of Aztec and Inca empires and triggering a hemispheric pandemic that may have caused the Little Ice Age which ensued. Prior to this contact, indigenous American conceptions of the sky had no input from the astronomical ideas circulating in the rest of the world.
On Tuesday, November 25, in a series of short, five-to-fifteen-minute presentations by UW-Parkside students currently enrolled in the Astronomy of Native America course, we will explore the range of astronomical understanding and beliefs among indigenous groups of the Americas from the Inuit peoples of the Arctic to the Maya, the most astronomical advanced civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.
Presentations begin at 7:00 pm and proceed until completion, estimated around 9:30 pm. Questions are welcome at the end of each presentation. Weather-permitting, the presentations will be given outside the Heide Observatory dome (directions here), and the observatory will be open afterward for a brief tour and night-time sky viewing. In the event of rain, the presentations will be held inside the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Center.
Have questions? Please contact us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
For reservations click here
by William Parker | Aug 30, 2025 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Saturday, December 13 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM or 8:15 PM – 10:15 PM)
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the most active and reliable annual showers. Unlike many showers that favor the pre-dawn hours, the Geminids are visible all night because the constellation Gemini (the shower’s radiant) rises in the early evening. Expect a steady pace of meteors, with the best rates after about 10 pm as Gemini climbs higher.
This year, a waning-crescent Moon rises late, so the evening hours will be the darkest; after moonrise, the thin crescent shouldn’t impact the brighter Geminids. Bring a reclining chair, warm layers, and a red-light flashlight. No telescope is required—just your eyes.
Weather policy: If the cloud-cover forecast exceeds 30% about 24 hours before start time, we’ll reschedule and notify ticket holders by email.
Purchase 6:00 – 8:00 pm tickets here.
Purchase 8:15 – 10:15 pm tickets here.
Questions? Observatory@hawthornhollow.org
by Chad Jocius | Aug 29, 2025 | Education, Observatory, Observatory Events, Repeating
Wednesdays, (8:00 pm – 10:00 pm)
Enjoy a relaxing Wednesday Under the Stars hosted at the Heide Observatory. Sink into a zero-gravity chair with your favorite beverage in hand, and prepare for an unforgettable journey through the night sky. Our expert guides will illuminate celestial wonders using a laser pointer, revealing stars, planets, constellations, galaxies, and other captivating objects of interest. Immerse yourself in the enthralling stories of these objects as we unravel their relationships and delve into their deeper significance. Gaze and savor the enchantment of the cosmos in this unique and relaxing evening under the stars.
Within 24 hours of purchase, you will receive an email confirming your reservation. If your email address differs from the one used to purchase tickets, or you have any additional questions, please email observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
These events are weather-dependent and will be rescheduled if the cloud cover forecast is greater than 40% or too few tickets are sold to fund the event staffing.
Dress appropriately for nighttime outdoor weather.
Purchase tickets here or email observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
