Best Places To Go Star And Moon Gazing Near Chicago

So many scenic vistas lie among the rolling hills of Jo Daviess County, about three hours from Chicago in the northwest corner of Illinois, that star gazing is often a scheduled event with experts. However, visitors to Horseshoe Mound, a 40-acre preserve operated by the Jo Daviess County Foundation, don't have to wait for an event. They can just bring their own telescope and sky chart to check out what to look for on a particular date. And yes, it is romantic. By the way, Horseshoe Mound is high enough that its scopes pick up views across the Mississippi River to Iowa and across the Illinois border to Wisconsin. If you're in the region on a Saturday, stop at the Planetary Studies Foundation in nearby Elizabeth. Check here for PSF museum information and events.

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With the world-famous Adler Planetarium in Chicago, a visit during Adler After Dark for fun and to tour the Doane Observatory is a natural star gazing opportunity. The bonus is that the Adler and the Duane Observatory are at the eastern-most end of the Museum Campus' peninsula, so views of the night sky looking east over Lake Michigan should be great. Click here for information on the Duane Observatory. The Adler also does "'Scopes in the City," a program that brings telescopes and experts to parking lots and open spaces of city parks, schools and churches for up-close views of the moon, stars and planets. Click here to see which neighborhood is next.

West suburban Geneva is a cute town on the Fox River that makes a fun getaway visit, and makes an evening boat ride on the river a way to gaze at the moon and stars. But if serious about sky gazing, check out the free public "Star Parties" held by the Fox Valley Astronomical Society. It's a club that holds member meetings and also does monthly public gatherings at the Peck Farm Park, a Geneva Park district property. The Star Parties are usually (but not always) held in the Peck Farm's parking lot on the last Saturday of the month, starting with a topical presentation in the barn half an hour before moving to the parking lot with telescopes. Midsummer gatherings are usually at 8 p.m. in the barn and 8:30 in the lot. The park stays open until 10 p.m.

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