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The Universe . . .
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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.
The Witte Observatory Complex will be open for Free Public Viewing at dusk (8:30 to 10:00) Friday, August 06 and Friday August 20th by the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club members. Viewing Venus, Mars and Saturn.
Friday, August
20 will be the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club meeting night. The meeting will
begin at 6:00 for a demonstration: "How to Clean Lens of Telescopes" by Claus
Benninghoven. This demonstration was cancelled at the last meeting night.
A regular meeting will following the demonstration.
New Travel directions to the Witte Observatory Complex. Check the Des Moines County Conservation website. (Turn west at 190th off Highway 61 as 152nd is closed due to construction).
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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. Questions regarding The Witte Observatory? Call 319-752-7477 or 319-753-1082. |
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.
New travel directions to the Witte Observatory Complex.
Detour: Turn west off Highway 61 at the John
Deere dealership on 190th to the observatory and at the T-intersection
take a left to the Observatory Complex. The main route -
152nd is closed off Pleasant Grove Road for road construction. |
| 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. Monthly Newsletter: SIAC Newsletter for June 2010 |
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E-mail us at: dmcconbd@co.des-moines.ia.us |
