What exists now
The nonprofit relationship, public websites, planning work, school outreach, local conversations, and early community feedback are underway.
Kids • Families • Schools • Community • Night Sky
The Northwoods night sky belongs to the community.
46 North Science Initiative is being built to create practical science and astronomy opportunities for local students, families, schools, and community partners — with the Northwoods community at the center from the beginning.
Plain-English version
What we are trying to do.
The first focus is simple: create more ways for Northwoods students, families, schools, and residents to connect with the night sky and real science without having to leave the region.
Why it matters locally
This is a community project built around youth opportunity, safe public observing, dark-sky education, local benefit, and careful planning.
For a local family, that can mean a student gets a first serious science opportunity. For schools and educators, it can mean another way to connect classroom science with the place students live. For the community, it can mean protecting and sharing one of the things that still makes the Northwoods special: the night sky.
Searching for the right site
We are actively searching for the right Northwoods site for a future astronomy-focused facility. We are also open to site suggestions, local introductions, and partnership ideas that may help the project fit the community well.
It is a phased nonprofit effort being built step by step.
Current status
Searching for the right Northwoods site.
The long-term goal is a permanent astronomy-focused center in the Northwoods. While the site search continues, we are building school, community, and partner relationships and planning future mobile or partner-hosted astronomy activities.
What is being built
We are building support, clarifying programs, developing youth astronomy opportunities, identifying partners, and preparing for safe mobile or partner-hosted programming.
Future goal
A permanent astronomy-focused center in the Northwoods, developed after the right site, funding, permissions, staffing, safety planning, and community support come together.
Community first
Building opportunities for the community.
46 North is being shaped around community benefit first. Astronomy is the starting point, but the purpose is broader: to create meaningful opportunities for students, families, educators, local partners, and residents across the Northwoods.
- StudentsCreate meaningful astronomy and STEM opportunities for local and regional youth.
- CommunityListen early, explain clearly, and build trust as the project develops.
- BenefitSupport schools, families, community partners, and area businesses through thoughtful programming and responsible planning.
- GrowthMove step by step, confirming safety, permissions, funding, logistics, and community fit before announcing programs or expanding facilities.
- Dark SkiesTreat the night sky as part of the Northwoods’ natural character and something worth protecting, sharing, and learning from.
Explore the Northwoods Sky
Useful astronomy, space science, and STEM resources now.
The permanent astronomy center is the long-term goal. In the meantime, the site can already become a practical hub for sky news, monthly observing tips, dark-sky education, students, teachers, and community science.
Astronomy & space science news
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Sky news will load from the local data file.
This month in the sky
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Quick observing notes will load from the local data file.
Connected programs
Different doors into the same community mission.
46 North Astronomy Center
The nonprofit home for the long-term astronomy center vision: public observing, youth science, dark-sky education, and a future permanent facility.
46northastronomy.center
46 North Astronomy Club
A welcoming community astronomy path for beginners, families, students, volunteers, and people who enjoy the night sky.
46northastronomy.club
46 North Aquila Team
A student pathway for astronomy, science skills, mentoring, observation, data, and long-term STEM confidence.
join.aquilateam.org
46 North Citizen Science Network
A way for local residents, schools, and visitors to help collect observations and learn from the place they live in.
46northcitizenscience.org
Applied Science Archive
A developing digital archive for useful science, education, field observation, citizen science, and applied research materials.
appliedsciencearchive.orgSupport the initiative
Help build local science opportunities carefully.
Support can mean money, introductions, volunteer time, school connections, land leads, business partnerships, donated services, or simply good local advice.
What support helps build
Support helps move the initiative from idea to impact: school outreach, youth science opportunities, public education, event planning, safety preparation, outreach materials, equipment planning, and the long-term path toward a permanent astronomy-focused center.
For community support, partnerships, land/site leads, or donated goods and services: use involved.46nac.org.
For donations: use donate.46nac.org.
Tax note: Please contact a tax professional to discuss donations to nonprofit organizations. EIN: 99-5145645.
Donate securely
Wisconsin solicitation notice: At this time, this online donation solicitation is intended only for persons and organizations located in Wisconsin. We are not soliciting donations from residents or organizations in other states where we may not be registered.
If you are outside Wisconsin and would like to support the effort, please contact us first at info@46north.science.
Processing costs: PayPal charges us a small processing fee. Adding about 2% more to your gift, if you choose, helps offset this cost.
Event planning note
Dates come after safety and permissions.
Public observing nights, talks, youth astronomy activities, and field programs may be mobile or partner-hosted before a permanent facility exists.
Specific dates and locations will be announced only after site access, permissions, safety planning, insurance/logistics, staffing, weather/seasonal planning, and any needed public-land or agency review are complete.
Contact
Questions, ideas, or local introductions?
Use the broad get-involved page for partnerships, schools, businesses, land/site ideas, donated goods or services, and community support.
Northwoods safety
Safety starts before anyone shows up in the dark.
Future 46 North programs will use practical safety suggestions for night and field activities: check-in/check-out, weather and road conditions, warm layers, high-visibility gear when needed, wildlife awareness, medical readiness, youth supervision, and event-leader discretion.
Check in
Follow arrival, check-in, parking, and release directions, especially for youth programs.
Dress for conditions
Bring layers, sturdy footwear, weather-appropriate gear, and personal supplies.
Stay aware
Watch for darkness, equipment, uneven ground, insects, wildlife, changing weather, and limited services.