The Little Known Observatory In Wisconsin With Views That Are Second To None

Few things are as humbling as looking up at the night sky to see an array of stars spread out before us. There are places in Wisconsin where you can see this sight perfectly. You need a very dark sky and an area with virtually no light pollution. When these things come together, you can spend hours thinking about what might exist beyond our world. But, for those of us living a little closer to civilization those experiences aren't as readily accessible. That's why Yerkes Observatory, sometimes overlooked by those out-of-state, is so incredible. It offers the everyday person an opportunity to not just see the night sky, but to get up close and personal with it. The state is lucky to have it - but if you haven't visited yet you'll need to go soon. They're closing in October!

The Yerkes Observatory sits on a 77-acres park in Williams Bay and is operated by the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago.

It was founded in 1897 by astronomer George Ellery Hale and it gets its name from Charles T. Yerkes, the businessman who funded it. It's been referred to as the birthplace of modern astrophysics and with so many notable researchers who have worked here, it's not surprising.

Up until the creation of Yerkes, observatories were treated simply as places to house powerful telescopes. But, in the early 20th century people began seeing these facilities as important places to also conduct with laboratory work in physics and chemistry.

The observatory itself appears huge from the outside. It holds the 40-inch diameter telescope, which is the biggest ever used successfully for astronomy purposes. The observatory also houses over 170,000 photographic plates for understanding the night sky.

A number of notable scientists have worked here, including Edwin Hubble, the namesake of the Hubble Telescope who conducted his graduate work at Yerkes and Carl Sagan, who popularized a more accessible understanding of astronomy.

Today, the observatory is a wonderful place to visit for a better understanding of the science made possible by its existence.

Weather permitting, visitors can head to Yerkes Observatory for evening observing sessions. These fun nights offer an opportunity to view celestial objects through either the 40-inch or 24-inch telescopes. These events are sold out through July, but a number of August dates are still available.

Yerkes also hosts public observing nights, inviting visitors to use telescopes set up on the lawn to view the night sky.

With the incredible architecture of the building itself, visiting the grounds during the day is a wonderful experience as well.

The University of Chicago has recently decided to cease operation at Yerkes Observatory. It will close in October, however some exceptions will be made for groups who'd like to see it after that day. To reserve a spot for an evening view through one of the telescopes, click here. To learn more about the observatory, visit the website here.

Yerkes Observatory is located at 373 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay. To schedule a tour, you can call them on 262-245-5555.

For more of Wisconsin's beauty, visit this awesome waterfall. It requires no hiking and the views are spectacular.