by Chad Jocius | Dec 19, 2023 | Education, Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
February 9, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
When you gaze up at the night sky, through the veil of stars and the plane of the Milky Way close by, you can’t help but feel small before the grand abyss of the Universe that lies beyond. Even though nearly all of them are invisible to our eyes, our observable Universe, extending tens of billions of light years in all directions, contains a fantastically large number of galaxies within it.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant object readily visible to the naked eye. It is 2.5 million light-years away. The light from it that we see right now is 2.5 million years old. We are therefore seeing the Andromeda Galaxy as it was at a time long before modern humans existed!
Come out to The Heide Observatory and we will take you on a tour of visible galaxies going back in time millions of years.
Take turns looking through our 17-inch telescope at binary stars, dim planets, distant galaxies, and other sky objects. 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.
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 lying still in nighttime cold outdoor weather. Warm beverages, many-layered clothing, and sleeping bags are all well-advised.
Questions? Feel free to contact us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org
by Chad Jocius | Sep 4, 2023 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Tuesday (November 28) 7:30 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 28, 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 7:30 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 Pike House.
Have questions? Please contact us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org.
For reservations click here
by Chad Jocius | Aug 12, 2023 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Saturday October 21, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 DUE TO RAIN
International Observe the Moon Night is an annual public outreach event sponsored by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and other NASA and astronomical organizations that encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon and its connection to planetary science and exploration. Everyone on Earth is invited to join the celebration by hosting or attending an event or participating as a lunar observer — and uniting on one day each year to look at and learn about the Moon together.
The Heide Observatory at Hawthorn Hollow will be using multiple telescopes along with live stream of NASA’s coverage on our outdoor flat screen to view the moon with amazing clarity. Come out and learn all there is to know about our closest neighbor and partner in the solar system.
This event requires tickets, but they are solely based on donations to sustain the operational needs of the observatory. Your donation (which covers one ticket) is greatly appreciated. Kindly reach out to us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org to confirm the number of reservations you’d like to make after making your donation through the link below.
Find Tickets Here
by Chad Jocius | Aug 9, 2023 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Saturday October 14, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
The North American eclipse of October 14, 2023 is an upcoming celestial event eagerly anticipated by astronomy enthusiasts in North America. During this eclipse, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, causing the Sun to appear as a “ring of fire” in the sky. This unique phenomenon occurs when the Moon is at its farthest point from the Earth, and it appears smaller than the Sun, creating a ring-like effect. The eclipse is not visible everywhere in the Earth, but the Moon’s shadow follows a path that will begin in Oregon and pass through parts of Utah, New Mexico and Texas, before crossing over the Gulf of Mexico, much of Central America, a wide swath of Colombia and Brazil, ending in the south Atlantic Ocean. Observers in these areas can see the “ring of fire” effect created by the Moon passing in front of the Sun. The donut or annulus shape of the visible portion of the Sun gives this type of eclipse its name: annular solar eclipse.
In southeastern Wisconsin, only a 40% eclipse is on the horizon, and we’re well-prepared with a variety of devices to ensure everyone can partake in this extraordinary celestial occurrence. Additionally, our staff and volunteers will help you delve into insights about our star and its significance for life here on Earth.
This event requires tickets, but they are solely based on donations to sustain the operational needs of the observatory. Your donation (which covers one ticket) is greatly appreciated. Kindly reach out to us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org to confirm the number of reservations you’d like to make when you make a donation through the link below.
Tickets Here
by William Parker | Aug 1, 2023 | Education, Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Friday, September 1 (9:00 pm – 11:00 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, and insect repellent is highly recommended.
Note: Jupiter and Uranus will not be visible until near 11:00 pm.
Find tickets here!
Questions about this event or others please contact us at observatory@hawthornhollow.org
by Chad Jocius | Apr 26, 2023 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Saturday (August 12) 11:15 pm – 1:15 am
The Perseid meteor shower (also known as The Perseids) is perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year, visible between July and August. With clear skies, you could see what some consider the most spectacular cosmic light show.
American spectators can expect to see the greatest number of meteors during the shower’s peak between Aug. 12-13 this year, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS).
Every year, Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle from July 17 to Aug. 24, with the shower’s peak — when Earth passes through the densest, dustiest area — occurring Aug. 12-13. That means you’ll see the most meteors in the shortest amount of time near that time. Years without moonlight see higher rates of meteors per hour, and in outburst years (such as in 2016) the rate can be between 150-200 meteors an hour.
Reserve your tickets for The Schoolyard Observatory Perseids 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.
Any questions? Contact us at Observatory@hawthornhollow.org
Purchase Tickets Here
