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'''Ashton Observatory''' is an [[astronomy|astronomical]] [[observatory]] operated by the Des Moines Astronomical Society, in collaboration with [[Jasper County, Iowa|Jasper County, Iowa (USA)]]. It is located in Ashton-Wildwood County Park near [[Baxter, Iowa|Baxter]], Iowa. Public programs are presented on Saturday evenings in the months of April through October, except for the first Saturday of each month<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashton Observatory |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/ashton-observatory |website=Ashton Observatory |publisher=Des Moines Astronomical Society}}</ref> |
'''Ashton Observatory''' is an [[astronomy|astronomical]] [[observatory]] operated by the Des Moines Astronomical Society, in collaboration with [[Jasper County, Iowa|Jasper County, Iowa (USA)]]. It is located in Ashton-Wildwood County Park near [[Baxter, Iowa|Baxter]], Iowa. Public programs are presented on Saturday evenings in the months of April through October, except for the first Saturday of each month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashton Observatory |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/ashton-observatory |website=Ashton Observatory |publisher=Des Moines Astronomical Society}}</ref> These public nights have been cancelled for 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |title=What's Happening |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/whats-happening |website=Ashton Public Nights |publisher=Des Moines Astronomical Society |accessdate=26 October 2020}}</ref> |
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== The Building == |
== The Building == |
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== The Mural == |
== The Mural == |
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[[File:AshtonObservatoryNorthsideMural.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|The northside mural]] |
[[File:AshtonObservatoryNorthsideMural.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|The northside mural]] |
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A colorful mural covers the exterior north side of the building. The 270 square foot mural, commisioned by the Jasper County Conservation Department, depicts the southern night sky as seen from the observatory including the planet positions at the time of the mural's creation (summer 2019) over a prairie scene. The stars and planets were painted with [[phosphorescent paint]], making them visible in the dark after sunset. The mural was created by local artists Lauren Roush and Pauli Zmolek from [[Newton, Iowa|Newton]]. Ms Roush, an art teacher, recruited around 40 young students to help in the early stages of painting on site. It was dedicated on September 7, 2019<ref>{{cite news |title=Jasper County Conservation Board Quarterly Newsletter |url=https://www.co.jasper.ia.us/DocumentCenter/View/1517/Jewel-summer-2019?bidId= |accessdate=26 October 2020 |agency=Jasper County Conservation Board |issue=Summer 2019}}</ref> |
A colorful mural covers the exterior north side of the building. The 270 square foot mural, commisioned by the Jasper County Conservation Department, depicts the southern night sky as seen from the observatory including the planet positions at the time of the mural's creation (summer 2019) over a prairie scene. The stars and planets were painted with [[phosphorescent paint]], making them visible in the dark after sunset. The mural was created by local artists Lauren Roush and Pauli Zmolek from [[Newton, Iowa|Newton]]. Ms Roush, an art teacher, recruited around 40 young students to help in the early stages of painting on site. It was dedicated on September 7, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jasper County Conservation Board Quarterly Newsletter |url=https://www.co.jasper.ia.us/DocumentCenter/View/1517/Jewel-summer-2019?bidId= |accessdate=26 October 2020 |agency=Jasper County Conservation Board |issue=Summer 2019}}</ref> |
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== Public Nights == |
== Public Nights == |
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Public programs are presented every Saturday night during the months of April through October, except for the first Saturday of each month. The programs begin with a lecture on an astronomy-related topic at 8:00 PM CDT. Following the lecture and weather permitting, visitors are shown objects such as the Moon, planets and bright nebulae through the telescopes in the observatory domes, and a few smaller telescopes deployed outside of the observatory. The lecture topics are available posted online early each year<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashton Public Nights Schedule |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/images/AshtonPublicNights_2020.pdf |website=Ashton Public Nights Schedule |publisher=Des Moines Astronomival Society |accessdate=27 October 2020}}</ref> |
Public programs are presented every Saturday night during the months of April through October, except for the first Saturday of each month. The programs begin with a lecture on an astronomy-related topic at 8:00 PM CDT. Following the lecture and weather permitting, visitors are shown objects such as the Moon, planets and bright nebulae through the telescopes in the observatory domes, and a few smaller telescopes deployed outside of the observatory. The lecture topics are available posted online early each year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashton Public Nights Schedule |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/images/AshtonPublicNights_2020.pdf |website=Ashton Public Nights Schedule |publisher=Des Moines Astronomival Society |accessdate=27 October 2020}}</ref> |
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== Private Visits == |
== Private Visits == |
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For a small fee, groups may schedule private visits on any night except Saturday night. Groups as large as 50 people can be accommodated. Volunteer telescope operators will support viewing astronomical objects through the observatory's telescopes<ref>{{cite web |title=Group Visit Information |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/group-visits |website=Private Visit |publisher=Des Moines Astronomical Society |accessdate=27 October 2020}}</ref> |
For a small fee, groups may schedule private visits on any night except Saturday night. Groups as large as 50 people can be accommodated. Volunteer telescope operators will support viewing astronomical objects through the observatory's telescopes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Group Visit Information |url=https://www.dmastronomy.com/group-visits |website=Private Visit |publisher=Des Moines Astronomical Society |accessdate=27 October 2020}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
Organization | The Des Moines Astronomical Society | ||||
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Location | 8755 W. 122nd Street North, Mingo, Iowa, 50168 | ||||
Coordinates | 41°48′48″N 93°17′18″W / 41.813359°N 93.288211°W / 41.813359; -93.288211 | ||||
Altitude | 260 m (850 ft) | ||||
Established | 1983 | ||||
Website | [1] | ||||
Telescopes | |||||
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Location of Ashton Observatory | |||||
Ashton Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the Des Moines Astronomical Society, in collaboration with Jasper County, Iowa (USA). It is located in Ashton-Wildwood County Park near Baxter, Iowa. Public programs are presented on Saturday evenings in the months of April through October, except for the first Saturday of each month.[1] These public nights have been cancelled for 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[2]
Built in 1983, the observatory originally consisted of two domes connected by a small room. Each dome houses a 16 inch aperture telescope, and can accommodate about one dozen people. In 2002 a 30 by 30 foot classroom was added to the building's north side, allowing for public presentations to groups of up to 50 visitors. The classroom was badly damaged by the August 2020 Midwest derecho, and is being extensively renovated.
South of the building there are several concrete pads upon which portable telescopes can be deployed to accommodate star parties.
A colorful mural covers the exterior north side of the building. The 270 square foot mural, commisioned by the Jasper County Conservation Department, depicts the southern night sky as seen from the observatory including the planet positions at the time of the mural's creation (summer 2019) over a prairie scene. The stars and planets were painted with phosphorescent paint, making them visible in the dark after sunset. The mural was created by local artists Lauren Roush and Pauli Zmolek from Newton. Ms Roush, an art teacher, recruited around 40 young students to help in the early stages of painting on site. It was dedicated on September 7, 2019.[3]
Public programs are presented every Saturday night during the months of April through October, except for the first Saturday of each month. The programs begin with a lecture on an astronomy-related topic at 8:00 PM CDT. Following the lecture and weather permitting, visitors are shown objects such as the Moon, planets and bright nebulae through the telescopes in the observatory domes, and a few smaller telescopes deployed outside of the observatory. The lecture topics are available posted online early each year.[4]
For a small fee, groups may schedule private visits on any night except Saturday night. Groups as large as 50 people can be accommodated. Volunteer telescope operators will support viewing astronomical objects through the observatory's telescopes.[5]
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