As Yerkes has become a space at the confluence of culture, art, and science, we have so much going on. From our speaker series to our roster of tours to our star parties, keep up to date by getting on our email list, following us on social media, and visiting us in person. We're forever evolving into a place of diverse programs for kids and adults alike. Writers, artists, sculptors, photographers, musicians, engineers, chemists, tech innovators, and astronomers are collaborating to understand how science inspires the arts and how the arts inspire cosmic discovery. We're eager to work together at this epicenter of BIG IDEAS. What was a dormant institution a couple years ago and a construction site under full restoration just last year is now a vibrant place filled with enthusiasm, focus, and new voices in conversation. Discover what’s happening in Cobb & Hale's three domes and the junction of Olmsted ellipses. More importantly, discover how you can tap into the energy.
Join us for a special Community Day open house on Saturday, October 5 from 10am – 12pm! We’ll have solar observing outside on the South lawn if the weather is clear, engaging hands-on activities, scavenger hunts with prizes, presentations from Yerkes astronomers, food for purchase from Pastries by Chad, and more for your family to…
Join us for a special Lunar Eclipse open house on Tuesday, September 17 from 8pm – 10pm! We’ll have lunar eclipse observing outside with the Northwest Suburban Astronomers if the weather is clear, family activities, presentations from Yerkes astronomers, food for purchase from local vendors, and more for your family to enjoy. The open house…
Exploring the Night Sky with the Great Refractor tour tickets for Fall 2024 are available now on our ticketing website! With only 12 tickets available for each tour, this exclusive evening illuminates the inner-workings of Yerkes Observatory after dark. Curated by our Astronomy Team, each tour features a viewing of the cosmos with the largest…
Join us for our next open house on Thursday, July 11 from 7:30pm – 9:30pm! We’ll have observing outside if the weather is clear, family activities, presentations from special guest astronomer and author Dean Regas, ice cream for purchase by Sweet Tooth of Lake Geneva, and more for your family to enjoy. The open house…
Hosted by four-time Grammy Award winners Eighth Blackbird, the 2024 Blackbird Creative Lab at Yerkes Observatory has ticketed performances and sit-down discourses with composers for the first time! This year’s Lab welcomes a talented group of composers along with the ensembles AREPO, Sputter Box, and Versa. The faculty and performers include musicians Lisa Kaplan, Matthew…