On a clear night outside New Glarus, the universe is waiting. The Moon, planets, constellations and occasional streak of a meteor can turn a familiar patch of countryside into an entirely different place after dark.

Getting started does not require an expensive telescope or extensive scientific knowledge. Southern Wisconsin and nearby northern Illinois offer astronomy clubs, public telescope nights, planetarium programs, historic observatories and even inexpensive telescope rentals.

The opportunities range from observing the sky just outside the village to traveling to Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, home to the world’s largest refracting telescope. Some programs are free, some require membership or tickets, and others can be enjoyed from a backyard.

One of the best places to begin is closer than many residents might expect: The Madison Astronomical Society maintains its Yanna Research Station in Green County, where amateur astronomers gather with equipment to study and photograph the night sky.