Join us for a one of a kind talk with horticultural legend Allen Ritchey on Thursday, May 8th at 6pm. The founder of Hosta Fest, a showcase of his evolving eden of over 450 hosta varieties, Al is speaking at Yerkes in celebration of the 25th anniversary of this fascinating festival at his arboretum and car body shop in Walworth.

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Experience this reimagined and reawakened international landmark! This 1.5 hour tour involves astronomy, architecture, restoration, and human stories of the cosmic castle in the arboretum.

It requires climbing staircases and visiting small spaces thus is not wheelchair accessible. $43 for adults. Ages 10-18 are $21. Kids 9 and under are $5. This is our classic tour of the new and old Yerkes.

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For the adventurous who don't mind climbing winding staircases, ducking pipes, and exploring small spaces where astronomers work, this behind-the-scenes tour is your ticket!

This is not for kids under 15 or for anyone concerned with physical demands. Not wheelchair accessible. 1hr 45mins. $79 for adults. Kids ages 14-18 are $49. Friday mornings only.

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With only 12 tickets available, this exclusive 2-hour experience illuminates the inner-workings of Yerkes after dark. During the tour, our Telescope Team will take you on a journey through the night sky with the largest refracting telescope in the world if skies are clear.

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We kickoff our high season with the auditory voyages of AREPO in the Dome on Thursday, May 22nd and Friday, May 23rd at 7:30pm! Our Blackbird Creative Lab alums will perform new works including ones written at Yerkes with composers Arjan Singh Dogra and Harriet Steinke under the mentorship of Grammy winners Eighth Blackbird. Only 55 tickets available!

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Did you recently get a telescope, or do you have an old one you’re unsure how to use?

Join the astronomy team at Yerkes Observatory on Thursday, June 5 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm for an introduction to telescopes and observing! This event is perfect for beginners, families, or anyone looking to improve their telescope skills.

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Yerkes' own Dr. Amanda Bauer guides us through Cosmic Vertigo, that dizzying feeling that comes from trying to grasp the incomprehensible scales of space and time. Come hear Amanda discuss her career in astronomy, her life at Yerkes, and how to find the wow in the everyday world on Thursday, June 12th at 6pm.

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Calling all K-12 educators! Join us this summer for a half-day workshop focused on incorporating scaffolded, NGSS-inspired activities into your curriculum.

The workshops will take place on the following dates from 10:30am - 1:30pm at Yerkes Observatory. Note that each session is scaffolded for a particular age range:

• June 18 - K-5 educators
• June 25 - Middle school educators
• July 9 - High school educators

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Join us at Yerkes Observatory for an Open House! We'll have telescopes on the South Lawn, presentations, food, and educational activities for you and your family. 

• Friday, June 20, 7:30pm-9:30pm – Summer Solstice Open House
• Friday, August 15, 7:30pm-9:30pm – Perseids Meteor Shower Open House
• Saturday, October 4, 6pm-8pm – Community and International Observe the Moon Night

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Jeanne Gang is one of the most influential architects of our time. Drawing insight from ecological systems, she creates striking places that connect people with each other, their communities, and the environment. Join us on Thursday, July 17th at 4pm as she discusses her design approach and the work of her architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang--including their designs of a transformative addition to New York's American Museum of Natural History, and Chicago's 101-story St Regis Tower.

She'll then be joined by Ann Drake, the founder of the Women's Leadership Center at Williams Bay for an in-depth conversation about Studio Gang's design of the Center's new campus and buildings. Located a stone's throw from the Observatory, the WLC is under construction and expected to open in 2026. The conversation will be facilitated by Yerkes Future Foundation Director Dennis Kois.

This family-friendly evening is hosted by Dean Regas, the acclaimed astronomer, educator, author, expert in observational astronomy, and national popularizer of astronomy. For ten years, Dean was the co-host of the PBS program Star Gazers.  Don't miss the chance to see him at Yerkes on Thursday, July 24th at 6pm!

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We're elated to have Dr. Katie Mack at Yerkes on Thursday, August 14th at 6pm! A brilliant writer and speaker, Katie will discuss the conclusion of the universe and her influential book The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) in this enticingly-titled talk from a great mind at the forefront of science communication.

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