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Lake Afton Public Observatory
A part ofThe Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education at Wichita State University |
Young and old alike can share the excitement of the night sky at the Lake Afton Public Observatory. Through the Observatory’s 16-inch telescope you can view such wonders as the giant planet Saturn and its rings, the Moon with its craters and mountains, glowing clouds of gas, star clusters with thousands of stars, and distant galaxies many times bigger than our own Milky Way. After touring the universe, you can explore the Observatory's museum area with its interactive astronomy exhibits. The Observatory is located about 20 miles west, southwest of downtown Wichita, Kansas. On these Web pages you will find descriptions and schedules for our public programs, selected astronomical images, and a whole lot more. When visiting Wichita, make sure you put this unique attraction on your list of things to do. |
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| Current Observatory Programs | |
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Moons, Rings and Other Things May 17-18 (9:00-11:00 p.m.) June 14-15, 21-22 (9:00-11:00 p.m.) |
Black Holes in Space May 3-4, 10-11, 24-25, 31 (9:00-11:00 p.m.) June 1, 7-8, 28-29 (9:00-11:00 p.m.) |
Next Photography Programs: Saturn - Saturday, June 15 at 11:00 p.m. Gibbous Moon - Saturday, July 13 at 11:00 p.m. |
Events and Happenings at the Observatory |
| Upcoming Special Events at the Observatory | |
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Fathers Day Weekend Friday-Saturday, June 14-15 from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm |
Bring Your Own Telescope Friday, June 21 from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm |
| Astronomy Photographs | |
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2012 Solar Eclipse Taken on May 20, 2012 by Jim Fullerton |
2012 Venus Transit Taken on June 5, 2012 by Jim Fullerton |
| Observatory Flyers | |
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2012 Public Program
Flyer
(in pdf format) 2013 Public Program Flyer (in pdf format) |
2012-13 School Program Flyer
(in pdf format) |
![]() Lake Afton Public Observatory WWW Resources:
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About the Observatory - history, directions, and map Monthly Binocular Sky Maps Comets Page Observatory Exhibits Kansas Astronomical Observers - Wichita's Astronomy Club Exploring the Solar System Awards for This Web Site! |
Observatory Memberships & Volunteer Opportunities Weather from the Wichita NWS Office Resources for Teachers Skylights (Our quarterly newsletter) Astronomical Images Resources to the Sky - sky information, how to see satellites, and links! Astronomy Links |