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Weiskopf Observatory
- Healthcare
- Byron, IL
About this business
The J. Weiskopf Observatory is operated by the Byron Forest Preserve District. It provides telescopes for public viewing and organizes special programs. It organizes public viewing sessions for observing planets, moon and fainter objects in the sky. The Byron Forest Preserve District, formed in 1980, works for preservation of environment, plants and wildlife. It has various facilities, such as the Jarrett Prairie Center, Prairie View Golf Club, Heritage Farm Museum, the Stone Quarry Park Recreation Park, and more than 600 ac... read more
Location details
7993 N River Rd, Byron, IL, 61010, United States
Get directions| Weekday | Schedule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Tue | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Wed | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Thu | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Fri | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Sat | Closed | |
| Sun | Closed |
It was very cold the night we arrived to see the planetary lineup. It had also gotten cloudy, so not much was visible. My friend went up to look through the viewer. She told me coming down that visibility was difficult at best. There were a lot of parents with children waiting to go up, so I opted not to go up to view. The children were very good, but I hated to make them wait longer. The host that was talking to us while we waited was interesting and answered a wide variety of questions from the audience. He seemed very kno... read more
Great little observatory with a powerful telescope and super informative guide
This is a great hidden little gem. Staff were very easy to talk to and gave you plenty of time to look at the stars. I got to see Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, and a few random stars. The 11" telescope worked great. The staff pointed out many constellations and fun facts. Only bummer is the newer driving range with its lights pointed right at the observatory but this is not the observatory's fault.
I came to watch the Perseids, and it was a lovely dark spot in comparison my Chicago neighborhood. Informative volunteers, too. My only suggestion is to ban parking facing the observatory, because the bright light burned my vision and required a while to adjust back to the night.
Amazing!! Cant wait to go back
Frequently asked questions about Weiskopf Observatory
How is Weiskopf Observatory rated?
Weiskopf Observatory has a 4.7 star rating with 12 reviews.
When is Weiskopf Observatory open?
Weiskopf Observatory is open now. It will close at 6:00 p.m.
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