Washburn Observatory
Washburn Observatory is an attraction in Wisconsin, at a modelled elevation of 287 m. Blue Mounds stands 524 m to the west, 23 miles off. The nearest named place is Observatory Hill, a peak less than a tenth of a mile away. Lower Wisconsin River Road Scenic Byway passes 17 miles off. 22 named summits stand within 25 miles.
The story
astronomical observatory in Madison, Wisconsin
Dates from 1881.
Wikidata Q7971453, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What to expect
- Operated by
- UW-Madison
How to reach it
- 17.0 mi off the Lower Wisconsin River Road Scenic Byway
Named places within 25 miles
- William Dempster Hoard: 0.1 mi
- The Henry Quadrangle: 0.2 mi
- Memorial Arch: 0.4 mi
- Civil War Cannon: 0.4 mi
- Civil War Cannon: 0.4 mi
- Henry Mall: 0.2 mi
- Robert E. Gard Storyteller's Circle: 0.3 mi
- Engineering Hall Park: 0.3 mi
- Class of 1920 Memorial Plaza: 0.5 mi
- Library Mall: 0.5 mi
- Allen Centennial Garden: 0.2 mi
- UW Madison Botany Garden: 0.3 mi
- Welcome Garden: 0.5 mi
- Creativity Garden: 0.5 mi
- Inspiration Garden: 0.5 mi
- Abraham Lincoln: 0.3 mi
- Mother and Child: 0.5 mi
- Awakening: 0.5 mi
- The Lantern: 0.5 mi
- Both / And — Tolerance / Innovation: 0.5 mi
- Lakeshore Nature Preserve: 0.9 mi
- Edgewood Forest: 1.4 mi
- Turville Point Conservation Park: 2.6 mi
- University of Wisconsin Arboretum - Grady Tract: 3.5 mi
- Jenni & Kyle Preserve: 3.7 mi
- Tiger: 1.1 mi
- Lion: 1.1 mi
- Rhino: 1.1 mi
- African Penguins: 1.1 mi
- Giraffe: 1.1 mi
- L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum: 0.2 mi
- UW Geology Museum: 0.4 mi
- Chazen Museum of Art: 0.5 mi
- Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: 1.0 mi
- Wisconsin Veterans Museum: 1.1 mi
- Willow Beach: 0.6 mi
- Brittingham Beach: 1.3 mi
- Vilas Park Beach: 1.3 mi
- Circle Bench: 1.4 mi
- James Madison Beach: 1.4 mi
- Observatory Hill: 0.0 mi
- Bascom Hill: 0.3 mi
- Eagle Heights: 1.9 mi
- Blackhawk Hill: 2.1 mi
- Frederick's Hill: 5.1 mi
- Council Spring: 1.9 mi
- Ho Nee Um Spring: 1.9 mi
- Big Spring: 2.2 mi
- Merrill Spring: 2.9 mi
- Springs: 4.9 mi
- Maple Bluff: 3.0 mi
- Fox Bluff: 3.2 mi
- Table Bluff: 14.3 mi
- Pine Bluff: 22.1 mi
- Ferry Bluff: 23.4 mi
- Picnic Table and Gazebo: 4.0 mi
- Tribal Council Picnic: 9.3 mi
- Williams Knoll: 11.8 mi
- MacKenzie Picnic Area: 22.1 mi
- Train Car: 9.5 mi
- Poynette Rest Area 12: 24.3 mi
- Portage Rest Area 11: 24.7 mi
- Cascade Aerator: 7.4 mi
- Fellows: 25.0 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Washburn Observatory. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mounds | W 262° | 524 m | 22.6 mi |
| Indian Castle | W 271° | 354 m | 24.8 mi |
| Sugarloaf Hill | NW 316° | 346 m | 20.7 mi |
| Liberty Pole Hill | S 180° | 338 m | 17.0 mi |
| Pine Knob | W 274° | 327 m | 24.9 mi |
| Liberty Mound | ESE 109° | 326 m | 13.1 mi |
| Owls Head Hill | NNW 336° | 319 m | 24.0 mi |
| Frederick's Hill | NW 311° | 317 m | 5.1 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:02 | 18:33 | 19:10 |
| June solstice | 05:19 | 19:58 | 20:41 |
| September equinox | 06:46 | 18:19 | 18:57 |
| December solstice | 07:27 | 15:40 | 16:26 |
Local time (America/Chicago).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 19 | 23 | 34 | 47 | 58 | 68 | 72 | 70 | 62 | 50 | 37 | 25 |
| Precip in | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — UW Arboretum - Madison, 3 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/37751417
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