![]() I think the original 19″ ‘scope came from the old St. I suggested the the original concept of providing an upstairs heated observation room next to the dome room using insulating windows so that visitors could see the telescope in warm comfort and, because digital imaging was just coming into general use at that time, simultaneously see the image from the “eyepiece” of the telescope on multiple television monitors. ![]() Our good friend, Joe Koestner, the museum director, had asked our group if MVAS might suggest innovative ideas to include in the design of the Miami Valley Historical Society’s new observatory to make it more of a teaching facility rather than a purely scientific one. In the early 1960s, I was one of the members of the old MVAS, along with Cash Durst and the famous Olaf Moon and “Torp” Lapenas of Optron Labs. The telescopes had been used for public observing sessions conducted by the MVAS and Museum but the facility is not currently employed. Built in 1971, primarily by young member volunteer labor, the medium-sized unheated building with its twin roll-off roofs shelters five permanently-mounted telescopes: a long-focus 8-inch Newtonian reflector, a short-focus 8-inch Schmidt-Newtonian, a short-focus 12-inch Schmidt Newtonian, a 10-inch Cassegrain, and a 5 1/2-inch refractor. The Junior Observing and Training Stationĭirectly north of the Apollo Observatory is the Junior Observing and Training Station, more commonly called the Junior Observatory. Visitors should call the museum at (937) 275-7431 after 7:30 PM to ascertain that it is clear at the museum. The Apollo Observatory is open free to the public every clear Friday from 8:00 to 11:00 PM. Observatory Viewed from the Meeting RoomĪ glass wall permits casual inspection of the telescope by visitors, although the entire observatory is open for public viewing during observing nights. The 50cm telescope is also located on the second floor, just to the south of the meeting room. The second floor of the Apollo Observatory contains a large meeting room where monthly meetings and social gatherings are held. The Observatory was built by the Museum using grant money from local foundations, and labor and materials donated from local businesses. Apollo Observatory’s 50-centimeter Telescope The telescope was built by members and its truss framework enclosed to provide shielding from ambient light. The original building and the 50cm (~ 20-inch) telescope located in the dome were designed with the advice and guidance of the Miami Valley Astronomical Society (MVAS). Email: Adams, Director of Astronomy Exterior of Museum Topped by Observatory Dome
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