When you gaze up at the night sky, beyond the veil of stars and the glowing plane of the Milky Way, you are also looking backward in time.
Join us at the Heide Observatory for Time Travel Through the Universe, an evening dedicated to exploring how distance in space becomes a journey into the past. Although nearly all galaxies are invisible to the naked eye, our observable universe contains hundreds of billions of them, stretching tens of billions of light-years in every direction. Using our 17-inch telescope, we will tour visible galaxies and explain how the light reaching your eyes began its journey millions of years ago. Even the Andromeda Galaxy, the most distant object most people can see without optical aid, appears to us as it existed 2.5 million years ago, long before modern humans walked the Earth. This guided observing experience blends deep-sky viewing with cosmic perspective, revealing how astronomy allows us to witness the universe as it once was.
đ Important Event Information â Late Evening / Overnight Event (Summer)
Weather-Dependent Event:
This program requires clear skies. If cloud cover greater than 40% is forecast, the event will be canceled or rescheduled. Notification will be sent by email no later than 24 hours before the scheduled start time.
Email Communication Is Critical:
Weather updates and event notices are sent to the email address used at ticket checkout. Please double-check that your email is correct and keep an eye on spam or promotions folders. If you purchase tickets using an email you rarely check, the cosmos will not notify you directly.
Comfort & Conditions:
Even on warm summer nights, temperatures can drop after sunsetâdress warmer than you think youâll need. Lower dew points can also lead to damp conditions, so blankets or chairs that can handle moisture are recommended.
Insects Exist and They Know Youâre There:
Bring your favorite insect repellent. The stars are peaceful; the mosquitoes are not. We observe the universeânot the bugsâbut they may still attempt first contact.
Rise and shine, the planets are putting on a show! đ Join us at The Heide Observatory at Hawthorn Hollow for a one-of-a-kind pre-dawn cosmic adventure. August mornings bring the perfect window to catch planets rising just before sunrise, and weâll be watching for Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptuneâand maybe even a surprise appearance by Mercury!
After planet-gazing, weâll welcome the sunrise with a hot pancake and sausage breakfast (yes, coffee and juice too!) while enjoying the peaceful early-morning magic of Hawthorn Hollow. The pancake photo may be a space-level exaggeration, but we promise theyâll still be delicious. đ„â
đ€ Weather Watch: This event is weather-dependent and will be rescheduled if cloud cover exceeds 40%. If that happens, the backup date is the very next morning, at 3:00 AM. Because itâs an early start, please check the email used to purchase tickets before heading out.
đ What to Wear: Dress for nighttime outdoor conditions, it can be cool before sunrise!
đ Tickets are limited, so donât sleep on this (even though itâs early). Reserve your spot today and join us for planets, pancakes, and an unforgettable start to the day. Get your tickets here!
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 huntersâ 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 showerâs 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.
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 huntersâ 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 showerâs 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.
Space Camp June 2025 at The Heide Observatory
Calling All Curious Astronuts!
Blast off into an unforgettable four-night adventure under the stars at the Heide Observatory! Designed for explorers ages 10â14, Space Camp 2025 is your chance to build, test, launch, and discover like a real scientist â no prior experience required.
Each night features hands-on experiments, collaborative engineering challenges, creative problem-solving, and telescope viewing (weather permitting), all guided by real science educators in an immersive observatory setting.
Together, weâll explore big cosmic questions like:
â Where are we in the universe?
â Why do things move?
â How do rockets get to space?
â What does it take to land on another world?
This is a science adventure built for thinkers, dreamers, and makers.
Wonder. Observe. Understand.
đïž June 24â27, 2025 â° 7:00â10:00 PM nightly đ Heide Observatory at Hawthorn Hollow đ” $200 per student đ§ Reserve your spot: observatory@hawthornhollow.org
Join us for “Dark Skies,” an interactive event dedicated to exploring and understanding light pollution and its impact on our environment and night sky visibility. Through a series of interactive stations, participants will engage in hands-on activities designed to illuminate the causes and effects of light pollution, as well as discover practical solutions to mitigate its presence in our communities. This event promises an enlightening experience for all ages, fostering awareness and inspiring action towards preserving our natural nightscapes. We will also have telescopes available for viewing of some of the fantastic spring-time deep sky objects.
âWe invite you to support our upcoming event through a donation-based ticket reservation system. To reserve your ticket, please click here.
Please note that Eventbrite processes one ticket per transaction. After completing your donation, kindly email us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org to inform us of the total number of participants in your group. This information is crucial for us to allocate sufficient volunteers and enhance the event experience. As the event will be held outdoors during April evenings, we recommend dressing appropriately for nighttime temperatures. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled to Wednesday, April 23, at 8:00 PM.
