by Chad Jocius | Dec 3, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Monday, January 13 (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
The Moon will pass in front of Mars, creating a lunar occultation visible from the Americas and Africa. Although the occultation will only be visible across part of the world – because the Moon is so close to the Earth that its position in the sky varies by as much as two degrees across the world – a close conjunction between the pair will be more widely visible.
Come on out to the Heide Observatory as we watch Mars disappear behind the moon. We will also be checking out the latest from our greatest hits, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune!
Get your tickets here!
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
by William Parker | Dec 1, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Friday (February 7) 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
While the Orion constellation is named after the hunter in Greek mythology, it is anything but stealthy.
Orion, which is located on the celestial equator, is one of the most prominent and recognizable constellations in the sky and can be seen throughout the world. Come on an adventure through the Orion constellation at the Heide Observatory. We will explore the unique stars that make up the Orion constellation and discover other wonders within as we take turns observing through our 17-inch telescope.
Between individual views in the observatory dome, receive a guided sky tour standing outside under the stars to appreciate the broader picture of what you see through the telescope.
Each 2-hour session will be confirmed by email at least 24 hours before scheduled according to the cloud cover forecast (< 30%). Tickets are transferable for any observatory nightly event in cases of poor weather conditions.
Reserve tickets here!
Have questions? Please contact us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
by William Parker | Oct 4, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Saturday, December 14 (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM or 7:15 PM – 9:15 PM)
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the most active and reliable meteor showers of the year! They streak through the sky every minute or two all night. It is unique because the meteors are visible all night long, since the constellation Gemini arises just an hour or two after nightfall. Most meteor showers require you to wait until midnight or pre-dawn for the best viewing. The constellation Gemini is the radiant of the Geminid meteor shower, which means that it is the meteor shower’s point of origin. The Geminid meteors will appear to fall away from the constellation Gemini.
This is the best meteor shower of the year so reserve these limited tickets early!
This event is weather-dependent and will be canceled by e-mail 24 hours before the scheduled start time in the event of a cloud cover forecast greater than 40%.
Dress appropriately for being still in nighttime cold outdoor weather.
Questions? Feel free to contact us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
Purchase 5:00 – 7:00 pm tickets here.
Purchase 7:15 – 9:15 pm tickets here.
by William Parker | Sep 16, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Tuesday (November 26) 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 26, 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 Chad Jocius | Sep 11, 2024 | Education, Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Friday, November 8 (7:30 pm – 9:30 pm)
Come out to the Heide Observatory and observe the moon in the evening sky, as it will guide you to Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus the gas giants of our solar system. Given clear skies, you can’t miss these bright worlds. The moon is the second-brightest celestial object, after the sun. Learn about the moon and these amazing worlds as we view them through our telescopes.
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.
Find tickets here!
Questions about this event or others please contact us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org
by Chad Jocius | Sep 11, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Thursday, October 17, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
This comet will be very low in the sky, giving us only a brief window to view it through the main telescope before it dips below the treeline. We may also head up to the old schoolhouses, where the view to the west is clearer, and use binoculars for a better chance to see it.
Comets are notoriously unpredictable, and it’s hard to know exactly how bright Comet A3 will be. Current estimates suggest it could reach a magnitude of 2.5 to 2 during its closest approach to Earth on October 12. If we’re lucky, it might be even brighter—or fainter if we’re not—since predicting a comet’s brightness is always tricky.
Even if the comet moves out of view, we’ll still have the opportunity to observe other deep space objects through the telescope.
Reserve your tickets here
