Observatory Buys Telescope With Help From KCC Foundation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The Warsaw Astronomical Society purchased the telescope from Camp Cullom Observatory near Frankfort. Kosciusko County Community Foundation donated $1,500 toward the telescope. The society paid $300 toward the cost of the telescope.
Although the telescope is used and cost $1,800, it was half the price of a new telescope.[[In-content Ad]]This was the first grant the Foundation donated to the Warsaw Astronomical Society, according to Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director Suzie Light.
"We see this as a perfect win-win project, and ultimately the public wins because they will have a viewing location and excellent opportunity to view the heavens," Light said.
Funds were donated to the Kosciusko Community Foundation for the Warsaw Astronomical Society to purchase the telescope.
The observatory, located on CR 675E, west of North Webster, now houses the 12-inch Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassagrain telescope.
The telescope will replace a 12-1/2-inch Newtonian reflector telescope.
Plans are to move the Newtonian telescope to the Potawatomi Wildlife Park in Marshall County, according to Warsaw Astronomical Society President Kurt Eberhardt.
The observatory received the telescope last spring, but due to an unexpected vibration problem and bad weather, were not ready to use it for an open house until now, according to Eberhardt.
"The original telescope is very long, which required shorter children and adults to climb almost to the top of a ladder in the dark," Eberhardt said.
He said the observatory had large groups, and it was difficult to fit the visitors into the observatory when room was needed to swing the long telescope around.
"The skies around the observatory are getting brighter at night with all the lights being put up around North Webster," Eberhardt said. "The brighter skies make it more difficult for the observer to locate objects, making groups have to wait longer to see things.
"The LX200 has a shorter tube with the eyepiece in the back that allows the viewer to look through the telescope without needing a tall ladder," Eberhardt said.
The telescope is computer controlled, which will allow it to accurately point the telescope more quickly.
An open house is being planned for April 12 pending clear weather at Camp Crosley for the public to view the moon and Saturn through the telescope. The moon will be viewed at 8 p.m., and Saturn will be viewed at 9 p.m.
Other nights will be May 10, Sept. 6 and Nov. 1, pending clear weather one hour after sunset.
There are no fees for the public observing nights, but donations are accepted to help offset the observatory's operating costs.
"We want people who have never had the experience of seeing the heavens to see the moon up close," Eberhardt said.
The telescope will be used for educating children and adults attending Camp Crosley, the general public, schools and groups.
The telescope also will be used by the Warsaw Astronomical Society.
The society currently has 25 members from Warsaw, Bremen, Plymouth, Mishawaka, Palestine and Mentone.
The society began in 1980 and meets the second Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers on Market Street and is always looking for new members.
For more information about the society, visit http://clubs.kconline.com/was
The Warsaw Astronomical Society purchased the telescope from Camp Cullom Observatory near Frankfort. Kosciusko County Community Foundation donated $1,500 toward the telescope. The society paid $300 toward the cost of the telescope.
Although the telescope is used and cost $1,800, it was half the price of a new telescope.[[In-content Ad]]This was the first grant the Foundation donated to the Warsaw Astronomical Society, according to Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director Suzie Light.
"We see this as a perfect win-win project, and ultimately the public wins because they will have a viewing location and excellent opportunity to view the heavens," Light said.
Funds were donated to the Kosciusko Community Foundation for the Warsaw Astronomical Society to purchase the telescope.
The observatory, located on CR 675E, west of North Webster, now houses the 12-inch Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassagrain telescope.
The telescope will replace a 12-1/2-inch Newtonian reflector telescope.
Plans are to move the Newtonian telescope to the Potawatomi Wildlife Park in Marshall County, according to Warsaw Astronomical Society President Kurt Eberhardt.
The observatory received the telescope last spring, but due to an unexpected vibration problem and bad weather, were not ready to use it for an open house until now, according to Eberhardt.
"The original telescope is very long, which required shorter children and adults to climb almost to the top of a ladder in the dark," Eberhardt said.
He said the observatory had large groups, and it was difficult to fit the visitors into the observatory when room was needed to swing the long telescope around.
"The skies around the observatory are getting brighter at night with all the lights being put up around North Webster," Eberhardt said. "The brighter skies make it more difficult for the observer to locate objects, making groups have to wait longer to see things.
"The LX200 has a shorter tube with the eyepiece in the back that allows the viewer to look through the telescope without needing a tall ladder," Eberhardt said.
The telescope is computer controlled, which will allow it to accurately point the telescope more quickly.
An open house is being planned for April 12 pending clear weather at Camp Crosley for the public to view the moon and Saturn through the telescope. The moon will be viewed at 8 p.m., and Saturn will be viewed at 9 p.m.
Other nights will be May 10, Sept. 6 and Nov. 1, pending clear weather one hour after sunset.
There are no fees for the public observing nights, but donations are accepted to help offset the observatory's operating costs.
"We want people who have never had the experience of seeing the heavens to see the moon up close," Eberhardt said.
The telescope will be used for educating children and adults attending Camp Crosley, the general public, schools and groups.
The telescope also will be used by the Warsaw Astronomical Society.
The society currently has 25 members from Warsaw, Bremen, Plymouth, Mishawaka, Palestine and Mentone.
The society began in 1980 and meets the second Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers on Market Street and is always looking for new members.
For more information about the society, visit http://clubs.kconline.com/was
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