June 21, 2011

Day 57: Things to do 365 Days a Year in Lake Geneva Wi - The Sky's the Limit at Yerkes Observatory this Summer!

Posted to 365 Things to Do in Lake Geneva, Area Attractions & Events

Just a few miles down the road from downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, you’ll find Williams Bay – home to Yerkes Observatory – where “the sky’s the limit” for kid-friendly events this summer (and year round, for that matter!) For many visitors, Lake Geneva activities center around the daylight hours, but there’s so much for everyone to do once the sun sets on Geneva Lake and while most Lake Geneva events are organized around particular dates, Yerkes Observatory offers a flexibility and a hands-on approach to astronomy. I love the Observatory’s “Star Parties on the Lawn.” Throughout the year, weather permitting, star-gazers 8 and older may make reservations to view the night sky through telescopes outside on the lawn. With the help of one of Yerkes guides, you and your guests will observe the changing night sky through an 8 or 10 inch telescope. Since the night sky is always changing, you may get to see the moon, stars and constellations, nebulae planets, the Milky Way, meteors and artificial satellites.

Regardless of what you see, a Star Party on the Lawn is an awesome ending to that very special birthday for your son or daughter! Yerkes Observatory also offers special opportunities throughout each month for those 12 and older to observe the sky through a two-foot diameter telescope. Following a brief introduction to the night sky, you and your friends will observe the moon, planets, nebular, star clusters and galaxies. Again, reservations are required.

In addition to these two programs, you can also make reservations for a special program for those ages 8 and older. These programs are held day or night. You will choose a three-hour program from among three offered: “The Wonders of the Universe,” “An Introduction to Spectroscopy,” and the history and architecture of this University of Chicago research center, known as Yerkes Observatory.

I’ve attended several Yerkes events and programs and each one is more exciting than the next. I promise you a fascinating event filled with wonder and delight. For more information about these programs visit the Yerkes Observatory website. In addition to these programs, Yerkes offers free admission on Saturday mornings; programs begin on the hour at 10 a.m, 11 a.m. and at noon. Each program lasts about 45 minutes. We may not have many celebrities in the Lake Geneva area…but we sure have amazing stars!

Posted by:  Janis Hartley

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