by Chad Jocius | Feb 12, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Monday, April 8 (12:30 pm – 3:00 pm)
Save the date – April 8, 2024 – for an extraordinary celestial event as a total solar eclipse graces North America, traversing across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Witness the magic unfold as the Moon positions itself perfectly between the Sun and Earth, creating a breathtaking shadow that temporarily darkens the sky, reminiscent of a dawn or dusk experience.
In Wisconsin, we’re gearing up for a remarkable 90% eclipse, ensuring a safe and memorable experience for all. Our preparations include an array of devices and solar telescopes, guaranteeing that everyone can marvel at this celestial phenomenon without compromising safety. Join us on this cosmic journey as we explore the historical and cultural significance of total solar eclipses over time.
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.
Reserve your tickets here!
Incase of inclimate weather or cloud cover we will be live streaming the event inside the Nature Center at Hawthorn Hollow.
by William Parker | Feb 12, 2024 | Observatory, Observatory Events, One-Time
Tuesday, March 19 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Hawthorn Hollow and the Heide Observatory invite you to celebrate the 2024 passing of the Sun into the northern celestial hemisphere and the first equal length day and night for this year.
Join us at the Heide Observatory on the night of Tuesday, March 19, starting at 6:30 pm for a March equinox party and simultaneously come experience the currently largest public-serving telescope in southeastern Wisconsin.
Your ticket will include: a walk to the restored prairie to view the sunset and look at the planets currently in the west through telescope and binoculars, a guided tour through the meadow solar system model, and views of the sky through our largest telescope along with a night-time sky tour of other celestial objects. Beverages and snacks will be included and the excess proceeds for the event will benefit the ongoing mission of the observatory.
In the event of inclimate weather the backup date will Saturday, March 23.
Please contact us by e-mail for more information or discounted group rates.
Purchase tickets here or email observatory@hawthornhollow.org
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
