Lake Afton Public Observatory
Encyclopedia
Lake Afton Public Observatory (LAPO) is an astronomical
observatory
located nine miles (14 km) from Cheney, Kansas
, in the Lake Afton County Park
. It was established in 1979 through the cooperation and support of Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita, and Wichita State University's Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education. Since then the Observatory has been operated by Wichita State University's Fairmount Center with additional funds from Sedgwick County for facilities. At the heart of the observatory is a 16 inches (406.4 mm) Richie Criterion Telescope. The observatory offers programs for the public every weekend throughout the year (with the exception of Christmas and New Years Weekend) along with various private, and school programs throughout the week.
.
January 8 - February 28 7:30-10:00 p.m.
March 1 - 31 8:00-10:00 p.m.
April 1 - April 30 8:30-10:30 p.m.
May 1 - August 31 9:00-11:00 p.m.
September 1 - 30 8:00-10:00 p.m.
October 1 - Dec. 18 7:30-10:00 p.m.
December 19 - January 2 CLOSED
8Events & Happenings at the Observatory
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
located nine miles (14 km) from Cheney, Kansas
Cheney, Kansas
Cheney is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,094.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cheney has a total area of , all of it land.-Area attractions:...
, in the Lake Afton County Park
Lake Afton
Lake Afton is a man-made recreational lake located about southwest of Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. It is within the Lake Afton Park, on land once inhabited by the Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita , Osage, and Southern Cheyenne Indian tribes. The lake was created by Works Progress Administration workers in...
. It was established in 1979 through the cooperation and support of Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita, and Wichita State University's Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education. Since then the Observatory has been operated by Wichita State University's Fairmount Center with additional funds from Sedgwick County for facilities. At the heart of the observatory is a 16 inches (406.4 mm) Richie Criterion Telescope. The observatory offers programs for the public every weekend throughout the year (with the exception of Christmas and New Years Weekend) along with various private, and school programs throughout the week.
Location
The observatory is located at 25000 W. 39th St. South on MacArthur Road, near Goddard, KansasGoddard, Kansas
Goddard is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. Part of the Wichita metropolitan area, it is a suburb of Wichita, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,344.-History:...
.
Observatory Hours
The Observatory is open to the public every Friday and Saturday, with varying times.January 8 - February 28 7:30-10:00 p.m.
March 1 - 31 8:00-10:00 p.m.
April 1 - April 30 8:30-10:30 p.m.
May 1 - August 31 9:00-11:00 p.m.
September 1 - 30 8:00-10:00 p.m.
October 1 - Dec. 18 7:30-10:00 p.m.
December 19 - January 2 CLOSED
External links
8Events & Happenings at the Observatory