Reach For The Stars (And Spot Wildflowers Here On Earth) At Indiana's Goethe Link Observatory
By Tori Jane|Published May 10, 2024
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
You know, one of the (probably unusual) regrets I have about this life is that I’ll never leave the planet’s surface (unless something completely insane happens, anyway). There’s a whole universe out there that I’ll never see – unless I go somewhere like, say, Indiana’s Goethe Link Observatory. This spectacular escape from planet Earth is astonishing in every way, but it’s so much more than just an enormous telescope. It’s an amazing place that often reminds me of all the beauty this little blue planet has to offer; it’s one of the only places where you can admire the beauty of both Earth and interstellar bodies.
Welcome to the Goethe Link Observatory, which was built between 1937 and 1939 by an amateur astronomer by the name of Dr. Goethe Link.
While he was a practicing surgeon by day, he was passionate about space, space exploration, and trying to see everything he could see from this little point on our tiny blue dot.
Nestled within this amazing little dome is a 36-inch reflecting telescope built by Dr. Goethe himself.
Today, you can tour the facility, attend events in which you can look through the big telescope, and learn all about the history of the place while admiring its amazing... well, everything.
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But there's something else about the Observatory that's especially wonderful: Dr. Goethe's wife was an avid gardener, and to this day, the descendants of her incredible daffodil garden bloom every year, making for one incredible show.
You haven't lived if you've never wandered through a sea of wildflowers knowing all the while you can come back later and check out Mars, or a distant star, or whatever else might be up for looking at.
The Indiana Astronomical Society now runs and maintains the Observatory (and the stunning wildflowers that surround it). They greatly encourage curiosity and exploration of the Final Frontier: outer space.
Come for the flowers, stay for the... equipment rentals?
Yup. As if the Goethe Link Observatory wasn't awesome enough, the kind folks here offer equipment rentals of things like telescopes, binoculars, and more. Not sure if or what to buy? Just borrow and see what you like before taking the plunge.
So, no matter what you come for (I honestly love it all), you're in for an amazing time.
It's not every day you can marvel at brilliant daffodils, check out the craters of the moon and then leave with an awesome refracting telescope, but now you can!
For more information about the Observatory, the services offered, the programs, and, of course, the awesomeness that is the equipment rentals, be sure to visit the official Indiana Astronomical Society website. Need a place to stay nearby? Check out this adorable lakefront getaway in Indiana.
What are your favorite natural wonders in Indiana? Wanna see more? Check out my favorite natural wonders of Indiana road trip.
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