This panoramic picture (scroll waaaaaay to the right) shows the observing field toward the east. There are trees to the north and east, with mostly clear horizons to the south and west. Water, restrooms, info room, and IFSP talks are in the Nature Center shown at left “(showers are at the Lodge, not shown in this picture). Note that driving is not permitted on the observing field after dark.
For astrophotographers, deep-sky fanatics, and anyone who really wants to avoid the risk of stray light, there is an isolated area next to the pond, hidden inside all the vegetation south of the main observing field, accessible by car from the south end of the observing field. The eastern horizon is not as clear, but the trees there also block the Frankfort light dome. See the Observing Field Map on the maps page for the "Astrophotographer's Corner".
Open spaces on the observatory lawn are also available on a first-come, first-served basis, except for the concrete observing pads, which are reserved for those helping with the Sky-Trekker program.
While we understand that you may wish to reserve a block of spaces for your club, we request that you only reserve one space next to you.
Prairie Grass Observatory (scroll to the right) is located about 75 yards west of the observing field, in the middle of a field of tall prairie grass. We have a 28" Starmaster Dobsonian telescope with goto drive, a 16" Meade LX200R Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, a 16" Meade Starfinder Equatorial Newtonian telescope, a 7" Meade ED APO Refractor, 25/40X100 binoculars, a Daystar H-alpha solar filter for daytime solar observing through the 16" LX200R telescope, and a white-light solar filter for the 7" refractor.
