Join us for Yerkes Messier Marathon Open House! We’ll have telescopes on the South Lawn, presentations, food, and educational activities for you and your family. March 9th from 6:00pm-8:00pm, rain or shine. This does not include the use of the telescopes in the building. Reservations are required. 

Tickets for this event cost $5 per child and $10 for adults and are available online only. There will not be parking onsite at the Observatory. Ticket holders must park at Williams Bay School and board an accessible trolley that will run a continuous shuttle between the school and observatory during the Open House. Only ticket holders will be admitted on the trolleys.

To reserve tickets, click here to go to our ticketing website!

Messier Marathon Schedule of Events

Saturday, March 9, 2024 6pm – 8pm

Trolley schedule: 

Leaving Williams Bay High School every 15 minutes starting at 6pm

Doors open: 6pm

[Rain or shine]

Presentation Showtimes: 

In the Drake Family Library

6:15pm – 6:30pm ; 7:15pm – 7:30pm

Yerkes’ storied past and bright future

6:45pm – 7pm ; 7:45pm – 8pm

All about Messier

Other activities: 6pm – 8pm

Telescope observing on the lawn (weather permitting)

Family activities in the Programs room

Demonstrations and information tables

Scavenger hunt

Gift shop

Food & Drink from Green Grocer 

Doors close: 8pm

Final trolley back to WBHS: 8:15pm