Introduction to the Onan Observatory
From OnanWiki
The Minnesota Astronomical Society operates a state-of-the-art astronomical observatory located in western Carver County at Baylor Regional Park. The observatory has been in continuous operation since April 2000, and has served thousands of visitors during that time. The mission of the observatory:
- Outreach / education for the general public, school and youth group
- Advanced capabilities for members of the Minnesota Astronomical Society
- Research
The observatory building consists of three connected rooms--the main observing floor, a meeting space and an equipment / warming room -- each covered by a semi-cylindrical roofs. The roof over the observing floor is movable, rolling off over the top of the meeting space roof, exposing the observing floor and its fixed telscopes to the open sky. Permanently mounted equipment at the observatory includes:
- Meade 16" LX200 GPS on a alt/az pier
- Visual observing telescopes (Celestron C14, etc.) installed on computer-controlled Paramount ME equatorial mount
- Imaging telescopes (Celeston C14 w/ HyperStar, etc.) installed on computer-controlled Paramount ME equatorial mount
The imaging telescopes are connected to a video distribution system that allows routing of their images to two permanently mounted video monitors located in the meeting space. Additionally, the distribution system can route the video to as many as two additional display or video capture sources.
