When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers.

According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy.

Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years.

The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead next week in Onalaska. The talk is part of the Badger Talk series at the La Crosse County Library, based on the book Chasing the Stars.

During this interview, not only does Lattis lay out why Wisconsin has led and continues to lead in astronomy, but how it all started with someone from La Crosse. UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory was built by La Crosse’s own Cadwallader Washburn. Lattis explains how that 19th-century foundation led to Wisconsin building one of the five original instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.

We also discuss the "Wisconsin Idea" in action at the observatory. While the building has been technically obsolete for research since the 1950s, it remains a vital piece of public outreach, maintaining a continuous tradition of public stargazing nights that dates back to 1881.