Des Moines County Conservation is dedicated to the sustainability of natural resources through land stewardship, conservation education and by providing quality outdoor recreation opportunities.
The Witte Observatory Complex
Come Explore The Universe
Have you ever wanted to....
Search the face of the moon?
Travel to the planets in our solar system?
Catch the tail of a comet?
Tour the star clusters of the Milky Way?
Experience the beauty of vast nebulas or explore the arms of distant galaxies?
These adventures await you at the Witte Observatory Complex
Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club
The SEIAC is a group of area amateur astronomers interested in sharing and expanding knowledge related to astronomy and space exploration and cosmos. The group started in 1983, and gathers to share the past and stay current in the field of astronomy.
SEIAC operates the observatory complex for public viewing; provides astronomy programs; schedules groups; business once a month and serves as a resources for the community.
Read the SIAC February 2012 Newsletter here. 
Read the SIAC January 2012 Newsletter here.
Read the SIAC December 2011 Newsletter here.
Highlights of Celestial Events in 2012:
Click here to view a listing of highlighted celestial events that will occur in 2012.
Night Sky Viewing
The Witte Observatory Complex is open for public evening viewing every 1st and 3rd Friday of each month by volunteers from the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club - weather permitting or otherwise noted on this website under the Monthly Events.
Schedule Tour and/or Night Sky Viewing for Groups
Schools, scout groups, churches, and service organization can schedule private viewing sessions at the observatory through the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Questions or reservations contact: David Philabaum at 319-753-1082 or Des Moines County Conservation office at 319-753-8260.
Becoming a Member of the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club:
The Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club meets on the third Friday of each month at the Witte Observatory at 7 pm. The purpose of the club is to provide astronomy opportunities to the local area, mainly through the use of the facilities at the the Witte Observatory Complex. During monthly meetings, information is provided about upcoming events and items of interest locally, nationally, and worldwide. The meetings allow members to share their experiences and expertise with each other, as well as providing a forum for questions. The public is welcome to share in the meetings, and they are followed by a public viewing session (weather permitting).
Additional benefits to members include our monthly newsletter, The Sidereal Times, voting rights for club activities, and membership in the national Astronomical League. The Astronomical League membership provides a quarterly newsletter, discounts on certain astronomy-related products, special training/skill building programs, and other great benefits.
Dues:
$20 for Single Membership
$30 for Family Membership
Membership entitles you to:
- be a voting member of the club
- the opportunity to be trained to use the telescopes
- receive a monthly newsletter & emails of events
- be a member of the Astronomical League and
- International Dark Skies Association
- receive the Reflector magazine
- or be a social member and not attend meetings
Click here to access the membership & donation form.
History of Witte Observatory Complex Buildings and Telescopes:
The Witte Observatory Building houses, a 12 inch aperture refractor manufactured in 1937 by Alvan Clark & Sons. It is doublet achomate design with a brass tube approximately 15 feet long, resting on a German Equatorial mount. Depending on the eyepiece used it can magnify celestial objects up to nearly 400 times. The telescope is believed to be the largest refractor in Iowa. John H. Witte, Jr. gave the telescope to the Burlington Community School District housed at Apollo School. When light pollution became a problem, the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club constructed a building to accommodate the large telescope. The project was complete in May 1987. There is a meeting room connected to this building where the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club members conduct presentations.
The Prugh-Carver Observatory Building with a unique motorized roll-off roof houses John H. Witte’s personal 8-inch refractor manufactured in 1931 and donated in 1996.
The Stone-Kelly Observatory Building houses a 16 inch Ealing Cassegrain telescope which was relocated from the current Burlington High School. The Observatory is named for two Burlington space pioneers - Dr. Ed Stone, former Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Voyager fame and Astronaut Jim Kelly, Pilot on STS-114 Discovery and Return to Flight missions.
The Witte Obervatory Complex
The Witte Observatory Complex is the result of cooperation between the Des Moines County Conservation Board, Burlington Community School District, John H. Witte Foundation and Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Construction funding for the facility came from the John H. Witte Foundation and a grant from the Carver Foundation. Nearly all the construction labor was provided by the volunteers from the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club with additional assistance provided by other community contributors. The Witte Observatory and the 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. All three observatory buildings are operated and maintained from the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club.
Getting There:
The observatory complex is located at 18832 152nd Avenue, Sperry, Iowa in Big Hollow Creek Recreation Area approximately 12 miles north of Burlington, Iowa.