Observatories are home to some of the biggest and most impressive telescopes in the world. As many amateur astronomers know, there are numerous ways to experience the night sky beyond looking through a telescope in your own backyard. Illinois has impressive observatories that offer a wide variety of star parties, tours, and observatory programs that will expand your knowledge of astronomy and your love of the night sky, whether you are new to astronomy or have been in the hobby for years.
For your convenience, we have compiled an alphabetical list of observatories in Illinois that offer programs for the public.
Disclaimer: This information was collected from the observatories’ websites in May 2024. Some information may be subject to change if the websites are updated. If interested in visiting one of the listed observatories, please contact the observatory for the latest information before you visit.
Dearborn Observatory
The Dearborn Observatory is located in Evanston, Illinois, and is a part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences.
Visiting
The observatory hosts Friday night observation tours and is open for two hours for visiting. Reservations are required for those who wish to visit the observatory from 8 pm to 9 pm. Walk-ins are welcome from 9 pm to 10 pm. There is no admission fee, however, if a reservation is made for a group of 10 or more, then a refundable deposit is required but will be returned the night of the visit.
The observatory also hosts an event called Ciera Astronomer Evenings. This special program takes place on the last Friday of every month and lets visitors meet astronomers from Northwestern’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics. The event includes a 10-minute introduction to an astronomy-related topic, followed by an open Q&A session with interactive demonstrations. It is a two hour show, and visitors can come and go during this observing window. Children are welcome, the event is free, and no reservations are required.
Image Credit: Dearborn Observatory
DuPage Valley Observatory
The Naperville Astronomical Association began building the DuPage Valley Observatory in 2002. It is located in Naperville, Illinois, and is named after the Astronomy Education Center’s location.
Telescopes
The DuPage Valley Observatory houses telescopes, though they do not have eyepieces for visitors to view through.
Visiting
Because visitors cannot view through the telescope directly, the sensitive video cameras take live images of celestial objects. The video images are then shown in the neighboring observatory, the Glen D. Riley Observatory. The calendar of public events can be found here.
Image Credit: The Naperville Astronomical Association
Glen D. Riley Observatory
The Naperville Astronomical Association has operated the Glen D. Riley Observatory since 1973. Named in memory of the physics teacher who had sponsored the group as a high school club. It is located in Naperville, Illinois.
Telescope
The observatory houses a 16” Newtonian reflecting telescope as the primary instrument. It is mounted on a Losmandy Titan Equatorial mount that can locate and track celestial targets by using the computer or the sky charting software on an iPad.
Visiting
The Glen D. Riley offers educational exhibits and many programs offered to the public. The exhibits feature a live video feed of the images being taken at the DuPage Valley Observatory (the Glen D. Riley Observatory’s neighbor).
Image Credit: The Naperville Astronomical Association
UIS Barber Research Observatory
The UIS Barber Research Observatory is supported by the community and is located 30 km west of Springfield, Illinois. The Barber Observatory is staffed by volunteers who have been trained through advanced astronomy courses offered by the University of Illinois at Springfield’s Astronomy-Physics program. It was constructed solely on community donations.
Telescope
The observatory houses two telescopes: one 20” and one 16” Cassegrain reflector. The 20” reflector is a custom f/13 reflector with aluminum coated mirrors. It includes a 10-C Spectrograph, a SE200 Echelette Spectrograph, and an Apogee U42 Imaging Camera. The 16” is a Meade LX200, f/10 reflector. It includes the Optec SSP-3 solid-state photometer and a 2048x2048 back-illuminated CCD with UBVRI filters.
Image Credit: UIS Barber Research Observatory
University of Illinois Observatory
The University of Illinois Observatory, built in 1896, is managed by the Astronomical Society at the University of Illinois. The observatory is located in Urbana, Illinois, and has a single purpose: “to educate the students of the University and the members of the community about the wonders of astronomy.” This particular observatory is one of the oldest university buildings and was declared a national historic landmark on December 20th, 1989.
Telescope
The University’s main instrument is a 12” Brashear refracting telescope
Visiting
The Observatory offers an Open House to the public. The sessions are open to everyone, and admission is free. The open hours are during the spring, summer, and fall months between 8 pm and 10 pm. During the winter, the open houses usually last from 7 pm to 9 pm. Please check the website for scheduled open house sessions.
Image Credit: University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory
Wheaton College Observatory
The Wheaton College Observatory is located in the college’s Meyer Science Center in Wheaton, Illinois.
Telescope
This observatory houses a PlaneWave Instruments CDK24 telescope, with a 24-inch diameter primary mirror and a Corrected Dall-Kirkham design to maximize image clarity and focus over an exceptionally large field of view.
Visiting
The Wheaton College Observatory is located on the roof of the Meyer Science Center and is open from mid-September through mid-November in the fall and from mid-March through the end of April in the spring. Normal opening hours are 8 pm to 10 pm Monday through Friday when skies are favorable. The observatory serves students taking astronomy courses at Wheaton as well as other visitors from on and off campus as time and staffing allow. Please contact Dr. Darren Craig at [email protected] with any questions prior to visiting.
Image Credit: Wheaton College
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