Drake Municipal Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drake Municipal Observatory |
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View from the South West
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| Organization | Drake University | ||||
| Location | 4898 Observatory Road, Des Moines, Iowa, 50311, US | ||||
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Coordinates
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41°35′43.86″N 93°41′16.22″W / 41.5955167°N 93.6878389°W
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| Weather | See the Clear Sky Forecast | ||||
| Established | 1921 | ||||
| Website [1] |
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The Drake Municipal Observatory is a special place in Des Moines, Iowa, where people can learn about and observe the night sky. It is a joint effort between Drake University and the city of Des Moines. You can find it on the Waveland Golf Course, which was the highest point in Des Moines when the observatory was built.
The observatory often holds public events on Friday nights during spring, summer, and autumn. If the weather is clear, visitors can look at stars, planets, and other amazing things in space using different telescopes. The main part of the observatory has a large 8.25-inch refracting telescope. This type of telescope uses lenses to gather light and make distant objects appear closer.
Contents
A Look Back: Observatory History
The main telescope at the observatory is quite old! It's an 8.25-inch refractor that was made by John Brashear and bought from Warner & Swasey. It arrived at Drake University way back in 1894.
Moving to a Better Spot
At first, the telescope was placed in a dome on top of the Science Hall at the university. But this spot wasn't the best. Tall trees and other buildings blocked the view of the horizon. Also, vibrations from streetcars passing by made it hard to get clear observations.
So, in the early 1900s, people started looking for a new, better home for the telescope. They chose a spot on the Waveland Golf Course, which was almost two miles west of the university. The city of Des Moines agreed to provide the land and take care of the outside of the building. In return, Drake University would supply and maintain the telescopes and other equipment. The university also agreed to offer public programs for everyone to enjoy.
Building the Observatory
The observatory building was constructed between 1920 and 1921. It was made from a type of stone called Indiana Limestone. The observatory officially opened on November 5, 1921. When it first opened, it also had a special telescope called a meridian transit telescope. This telescope was used to help provide the official time for the city of Des Moines!
Public Night Programs
The Drake Municipal Observatory hosts public programs on Friday evenings. These events usually happen during the spring, summer, and autumn months.
What Happens at Public Nights?
- A lecture on an interesting astronomy topic is given at 8:00 PM.
- After the lecture, if the sky is clear, visitors can look through the historic 8.25-inch refractor telescope.
- There are also many other modern, smaller telescopes available for observing.
How to Visit
It's important to know that you don't enter the observatory through the main golf course entrance. Visitors should drive to the site using Observatory Road. This road starts on the west side of Polk Blvd, two blocks south of University Ave. Even though it's on a golf course, the observatory is easy to access. There is special parking for people with disabilities right next to the building. The building itself has been changed to be wheelchair accessible through the main entrance. You can always find the latest information about upcoming lectures and events online.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the public lectures were held online to keep everyone safe.
Images for kids
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An illustration of the observatory that appeared in the Des Moines Register in 1921
