Field Trip OFFERINGS:
Geared to students of all ages and their teachers, Observatory Field Trips are designed as a 1-2 hour visit to the Bell Burnell Observatory in Madison, Wisconsin. Visits are offered during the school day, between the hours of 9am and 4pm, though occasional evening scheduling may be available for after school clubs.
Visits include:
– Overview of the Bell Burnell Observatory’s history
– Background information on Jocelyn Bell Burnell
– Tour of the historic observatory
– Hands-on science activity or astronomy talk
Base fee: $100*
*The observatory can host a limited number of students at one time; fees are based on group size. Additional activities and students can be accommodated at an increased price. We are also able to coordinate your visit with other activities, such as our Biotechnology Field Trips Program or UW-Madison’s Space Place.
Please Read:
There is a stone staircase leading up to the historic observatory and a pull-down ladder to access the dome, neither of which are currently wheelchair accessible. This is a high-power, research-grade telescope that sends images to a computer screen for viewing as opposed to an eyepiece. While food is not allowed in the observatory, we are able to accommodate school groups to eat lunch in a nearby Promega building. See also: Cancellation Policy for K-12 Programs.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Hands-on:
-
- Exploring Martian Soil Properties with Space Sand
- Solar Telescopes (weather permitting)
Talks:
-
- Astrophotography: Capturing the Cosmos
- Eclipses: A Solar Spectacle
- Our Moon: Exploring our Lunar Neighbor
We also work with a number of astronomy and spaceflight professionals, if you would prefer a career talk. Please note you may need flexible availability based on the speaker’s schedule. Contact us if you have a particular talk topic in mind as we are open to customization!
We have limited availability for evening observing for small school groups or clubs. Please reach out with inquiries but we cannot guarantee evening scheduling or clear skies. When you complete the field trip form, please let us know your objectives. Are you more interested in the process of setting up the scope or the image products? What topics or objects are you especially interested in? This will help us with the logistics of your visit.