The Earl Bane Observatory was established in 1997 to enlighten both students and public to the vast wonders and beauty of the celestial world. The Observatory houses a 12-inch Catadioptric telescope that uses both mirrors and lenses for precision viewing. Its magnification of 600 power is excellent for deep space observations.


Accompanying the Catadioptric are several Dobsonian telescopes that are excellent for amateur astronomers allowing beginning astronomy enthusiasts to easily maneuver the Dobsonian from one celestial object to another. The Observatory offers an exciting evening of celestial viewing as the night sky unveils its mystic wonders before our eyes.


Instructor Dennis Smith hosts star parties on the third Saturday of every month. Open to the public, these events feature different celestial highlights every month. Star parties are a great way to learn about the night sky.