Dearborn Observatory
Tours of the Dearborn Observatory are free and open to the public and are held every Friday night, unless otherwise specified. The first hour of tours is reservation-only. The second hour is open to all without a reservation.
All reserved tours for July, August, and September are at capacity. Please join us for a walk-in tour on Fridays at 10pm: April-September; 9pm: October – March. Sign up for the July and August waitlist or the September waitlist. If there are any cancellations, those on the waitlist will be contacted in order of sign ups.
| Season | Reserved Tours | Walk In-Tours |
| April- September | 9-10 PM | 10-11 PM |
| October- March | 8-9 PM | 9-10 PM |
FAQ
- Do tours cost money? Free Friday tours. Private group sessions are available for a fee.
- What if there is bad weather? Tours are held rain or shine, though visibility may be limited by cloud cover. Please note that the dome where the telescope is located is not heated or air-conditioned, so please dress accordingly.
- Is the observatory ADA accessible? No, visitors must climb multiple stair cases to get to the dome.
- Can children attend? Yes, children are welcome.
If you have questions or need information about viewing, please email Adrienne Mintz.
In addition to our free Friday night observing sessions, private viewing sessions for groups of up to 20 people can be arranged on other nights of the week (for a fee). Please email Adrienne Mintz for more information.
Tours are hosted by Ph.D. students and/or undergraduate students majoring in Physics & Astronomy. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions.
Dearborn Observatory Address:
2131 Tech Drive
Evanston IL, 60208
CIERA Astronomer Evenings
CIERA Astronomer Evenings are special programs that take place on the last Friday of the month at the observatory. Meet astronomers from Northwestern’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics. Different experts host each month and are available to answer your astronomy questions. The evenings include a 10-minute introduction to a topic, followed by an open Q&A session and interactive demonstrations. Stop by any time during the two-hour public observing window. The talks are free and open to all. No reservation is needed.