Coming Soon
Astronomical Observatory at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO
A partnership between Jefferson College and the St. Louis Astronomical Society
Overview
The St. Louis Astronomical Society ("SLAS") is excited to announce that it is partnering with Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri to develop an astronomical observatory on the campus of the college. The astronomical observatory will feature several observatory buildings equipped with ready-to-use telescopes of sufficient aperture (light gathering ability) to allow for college level research. Educators and students of K-12 schools will be encouraged to make use of the observatory for educational projects. Members of the St. Louis Astronomical Society will be able to use the observatory to host public and private events.
The observatory is designed to engage the community to learn more about the science of astronomy and physics. Regular stargazing and solar viewing events for the general public will be hosted by the college staff and members of SLAS. A patio viewing area will be open for 24/7 access by amateur astronomers and enthusiasts to explore the night sky and our closest star, the Sun. Well-publicized astronomical events in the media such as eclipses, transits, comets and meteor showers are expected to draw large audiences.
Location
Located in the heart of Jefferson County, the convenient location of the observatory site on the campus of Jefferson College is expected to draw visitors from Jefferson County and surrounding counties. The convenient, centralized location of Jefferson College is well known to the residents and K-12 educators in the area encouraging them to visit often. Visitors from the St. Louis regional area will find the observatory just a 30-minute drive on southbound on Missouri Route 21 ("Highway 21") from the road’s intersection to Interstate 270 in West St. Louis County.
Use this link to view a google map with a pin showing the location of the proposed observatory on the college campus: Jefferson College Observatory Site
Structure
The Jefferson College Observatory will be developed in phases over several years.
As illustrated in the design provided below, long-term plans include three observatory buildings to house permanently mounted telescopes (#1 and #4), a patio viewing area with electrical hookups for the public and amateur astronomers to bring their own telescopes (#2), a wall to protect the viewing area from the glaring headlights of vehicles that are visiting the observatory site, and a restroom (#3). The location makes use of paved parking that already exists next to the site.
Structure #1 is an “observatory dome” structure which will be easily identifiable by the public as an observatory. This dome structure will have a permanently mounted telescope with a motorized dome allowing the telescope to maneuver to the desired parts of the sky.
Structure #2 is a patio with telescope “pads” for the general public and amateur astronomers to setup their personal equipment, and a wall to protect the viewing area from car lights. Current plans are for the patio to be made available for 24/7 access by the general public. Each pad will have electrical hookup to encourage use.
Structure #3 is restroom for guests (currently, portable restrooms are available in a short walking distance).
Structure #4 features two buildings large enough to house telescopes ranging up to 30” in aperture, host 10-15 visitors at a time and provide storage space for accessories. Telescopes will be permanently mounted in buildings with motorized, “roll-off” roofs to simplify operation and reduce wear/tear of the equipment.
For security reasons, use of structures #1 and #4 will be limited to personnel who are trained and authorized to use the equipment.
Funding/Timing
Development of the observatory site is planned in the order numbered on the design shown above.
Construction on phase #1, concrete pad and power for the dome, is nearly complete. SLAS anticipates installing the dome by the end of May 2021.
Jefferson College and the St. Louis Astronomical Society will partner to raise funds to develop future phases of the site. Funds will be raised from contributions by each partner, donations from the public, grants and corporate sponsors.