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Come Explore
The Universe . . .
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at the
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Share the Adventure
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Have you ever wanted to . . . |
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These adventures and
more await you at the
Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Complex.
Public Viewing
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Free public viewing nights are conducted by the
Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club on the first and third Friday of each
month. The observatory opens at 7:00 p.m. and weather permitting, observing
begins at dusk. Concrete observing pads with electricity are available for
people to set up their personal telescopes. The observatories are not heated so dress appropriately for the weather. A heated classroom is available for warming up. The astronomy club holds monthly meetings at the observatory on the third Friday starting at 7:00 p.m.. The meeting is open to the public. Membership in the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club is open to anyone with an interest in astronomy. For more information visit www.seiac.com |
Schedule Your Group
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Boy Scouts,
Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, churches, service clubs, family gatherings, and
other groups may schedule exclusive educational viewing sessions at the
observatory. Reservations should be made well in advance to ensure that a certified telescope operator will be available. Contact Starr’s cave Nature Center at 753-5808 for scheduling information. |
Operation
| Activities at the Southeast Iowa
Astronomy Complex are conducted by members of the Southeastern Iowa
Astronomy Club. Club members, after completing a training and apprenticeship
program, operate the telescopes for public and private groups. Only trained
telescope operators will be allowed to operate the telescopes. The facility is maintained by the Des Moines County Conservation Board and the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. |
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Equal Opportunities
| All persons are entitled to full and equal enjoyment of the opportunities, privileges, and advantages available in the conservation areas of Des Moines County. |
Telescopes
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The Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Complex consists of three separate observatories. The John H. Witte Observatory, housing a 12 inch Alvan Clark and Sons refractor was the first. The telescope was originally donated to the Burlington school system in 1937 by John H. Witte Jr. a local businessman and amateur astronomer. Several years later the Prugh-Carver observatory was built to house Mr. Witte’s personal telescope, an eight inch refractor made by J. W. Fecker in 1931. The latest addition, the Stone-Kelly observatory, contains a 16 inch classical cassegrain made by Ealing Optical. |
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Clark
Refractor Photo by: Scott Morgan - TheHawkEye |
When the current high school was built the observatory and telescope were
donated to the Burlington school system by John H. Witte Jr. and installed
on the roof of the high school. They were moved to the observatory complex
to escape the lights of the city. J. W. Fecker Refractor |
 Ealing Cassegrain Photo by: Scott Morgan - TheHawkEye |
OBSERVATORY COMPLEX
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T he observatory complex is the result of cooperation between the Des Moines County Conservation Board, the Burlington Community School District, the John H. Witte Foundation and the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Funding for construction of the facilities has come from the Carver foundation and substantial grants from the John H. Witte Foundation. Nearly all of the construction labor was provided by volunteers from the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Additional assistance was provided by other community contributors. The John H. Witte observatory and Prugh-Carver observatory are owned by the Des Moines County Conservation Board. The Stone-Kelly observatory is under a long term loan agreement between the Des Moines County Conservation Board and the Burlington Community School District. |
Getting There
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The observatory complex is located at 18832 152nd Avenue, Sperry, Iowa in Big Hollow Creek Recreation Area approximately 12 miles north of Burlington, Iowa. |
| Our Mission ...to
conserve, preserve, develop, and promote the wise use of Des Moines
County's natural resources and enhance the quality of the life experience. Related Web Site: www.seiac.com (Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club Web Site) Monthly Newsletter: SIAC Newsletter for April 2009 |
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E-mail us at: dmcconbd@co.des-moines.ia.us |
