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 | Jun 4, 2025 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Rescheduled!
August 31, 3:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Join us at The Heide Observatory at Hawthorn Hollow for a celestial treat! Early mornings in August offer the perfect opportunity to witness the planets rising just before the break of dawn. Marvel at the sights of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and perhaps even Mercury!
As the sun begins to rise, we’ll gather for a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast (with coffee and juice available) while soaking in the serene morning ambiance of Hawthorn Hollow. Please note that the image above may not accurately depict the pancakes served, but rest assured, we’ll do our best to tantalize your taste buds!
This event is weather-dependent and will be rescheduled if the forecast shows more than 40% cloud cover. As the event is scheduled early, please check the email you used to purchase tickets before heading out.
Dress appropriately for nighttime outdoor weather.
Weather backup night will be the very next morning 08/31 at 3:00 am.
Tickets for this special event are limited, so be sure to reserve yours today! Contact us with any questions Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
We look forward to sharing this enchanting experience with you!
Get your tickets here. Tickets for this special event are limited, so be sure to reserve yours today!
Contact us with any questions Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
We look forward to sharing this enchanting experience with you!
by Chad Jocius | May 5, 2025 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Tuesday (August 12) 10:00 pm – 12:00 am
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August.
In 2025 the Perseid meteor shower is active between 17 July and 24 August. The shower will peak 12-13 August.
The Perseid (Per-see-id) meteor shower is one of the highlights of many meteor hunters’ calendars due to its high hourly rate and bright meteors, caused by the Earth slamming into the debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in July and August every year.
It is called the Perseid because the meteors seem to originate from the constellation of Perseus. Astronomers call this point the meteor shower’s radiant.
Reserve your tickets for The Heide Observatory Perseid Meteor shower event and enjoy a relaxing display of the meteors as you lay back in our zero gravity chairs. Tickets for this event go fast so reserve yours today.
Watch for an email confirmation with the address used for purchase tickets a few days prior to the event and a updated weather confirmation at least 24 hours prior to the reservation time. In the event of poor weather conditions the back-up night will be Wednesday August 13, times yet to be determined. Please feel free to email us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
Purchase Tickets Here.
