Stargazing in Sturgeon Bay is spectacular, especially on clear nights, and is made even better with the help of the telescope at the Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center. Make a note for Star Date November 7, 2026, beginning at 7PM, for the first Star Party night of the ‘winter’ stargazing season, and you might be part of some of the ongoing exploration work undertaken by the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society (DPAS).
If you haven’t been to one of DPAS’ star parties in Sturgeon Bay, make plans to teleport (or drive) yourself there this winter, to experience the updates and offerings of this 28 year old astronomy campus.
Dave Lenius, DPAS board president since 2020 and member of 14 years, explained the technological upgrades DPAS has made in recent months.
The astrotechnology DPAS uses, allows DPAS members, and visiting scientists to see deeper into space. This deep space viewing, combined with Sturgeon Bay’s dark(ish) skies, have helped DPAS astronomers identify and register with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 35 exoplanets.
The altruistic Stoneciphers left much of their wealth to DPAS and the observatory, with the caveats that there were two funds set up: one for technology upgrades at the Astronomy center, the other for scholarships for Door County students wanting to pursue degrees focusing on math and science. Currently, Lenius said, DPAS is sponsoring 16 students at various universities.
DPAS also has a mobile planetarium they travel with and make presentations to school groups of all ages. Lenius said their presentation is changeable for different age groups. DPAS has even been invited to the regional Destination Imagination challenge weekends.
By attending a DPAS event like the Star Party tomorrow night and making a donation, you can become a member and support astronomy opportunities, and receive information about the Door Peninsula Astronomy Society and their activities.
The Stonecipher astronomy center will be open for visitors on Saturday, with the telescope if skies are clear, in addition to some private telescopes set up on different objects for people to view. The Leonid meteor shower is happening, with a peak mid-November. Skywatchers could see 10 to 15 meteors per hour. The astronomy center is located at 2200 Utah Street, Sturgeon Bay, with the entrance off of Cove Road (turn left through the gate onto the dirt road). For more info about DPAS events, visit DoorAstronomy.org, or find them on Facebook under DoorAstronomy.
