Last Saturday, October 10th, Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) welcomed members of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society, Madison Astronomical Society, and Iowa County stargazers for an evening of exploration at Wintergreen (Spring Green, WI).
With telescopes, cameras, binoculars, and other observing equipment in tow, about 35 astronomers gathered at Wintergreen to share their knowledge, explore the property, and see what its night skies had to offer.
For DALC, the gathering offered a glimpse of what Wintergreen can make possible. Protecting land is about more than the acres themselves. It is also about creating opportunities for people to come together, explore the natural world, and build connections with the places that make this region so special.
Throughout the evenings, DALC staff had the chance to set up personal telescopes, look through equipment brought by attendees, and learn from the astronomers’ remarkable knowledge and experience. The Milky Way was visible overhead, and the Andromeda Galaxy could be seen through a telescope. These observations offered encouraging signs of Wintergreen’s potential for future astronomy gatherings.
Astronomer set-ups at Wintergreen.
The property’s elevation, reaching approximately 1,000 feet, also offers advantages for stargazing. Astronomers noted that the skies overhead and toward the south, east, and west were particularly promising, while light from nearby development created some additional glow in the northern sky.
Dark skies are a valuable natural resource. They allow us to experience the night sky more fully, support nocturnal wildlife, and connect with a part of the natural world that can be easy to overlook. Learning more about Wintergreen’s conditions is one way to understand how the property might support both conservation and future opportunities for public exploration.
Andromeda Galaxy in a Bortle 4 area (Representing a rural/suburban transition zone on the 9-level Bortle Dark-Sky Scale). Photo by Matthew Ryno.
As Mike Wagner of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society reflected:
“One of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity to bring members of three astronomical societies together in a shared observing experience. Each club has its own culture, traditions, equipment, and areas of expertise, and getting everyone together creates a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences, and friendships.”
That spirit of shared exploration is what made the evening meaningful for DALC, too. We were excited to welcome these groups to Wintergreen, open the property for exploration, and learn alongside people who care deeply about the night sky.
A HUGE thank you to the Milwaukee Astronomical Society, Madison Astronomical Society, and Iowa County stargazers for sharing your time, knowledge, and enthusiasm with us. We look forward to continuing these conversations and exploring what Wintergreen can offer in the years ahead.