Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium
Encyclopedia
Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is an educational astronomical
observatory
and Planetarium
run as an educational ministry of French Camp Academy. It is located near French Camp
, Mississippi
, United States
. It is the largest observatory in Mississippi with 16+ telescopes, with the largest instruments including a 32-inch Dobsonian telescope
and 14-inch Celestron catadioptric
telescope
. Rainwater is currently awaiting delivery of the Sollee Telescope, a 25-inch research-grade telescope. When installed in the two-story observatory building already constructed in the observatory complex, the Sollee Telescope will be suitable for serious astronomical studies, in the last remaining "dark spot" in Mississippi on the U.S. Dark Skies photograph.
Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is the site for the annual Midsouth Star Gaze. This gathering of amateur astronomers is held in late March or early April each year on the weekend closest to New Moon (to allow for the maximum night-time observing for deep-sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae). The planetarium/activities complex includes one main building with a 30-foot dome and Spitz planetarium
projector, combined with a computer/activities room. A meeting room and exhibition space building next door includes dormitory space and male/female group bathrooms with showers. Up the hill from the activity buildings is the cluster of observatory buildings for all the reflector
, refractor, and catadioptric
telescopes. Various astronomical exhibits such as markers showing the arrangement of the Stonehenge
standing stones with their annual rise and set points, a multitude of sundials, and a walking trail that demonstrates the relative distances between the Sun and all its planets, cover the distance between the activities complex and the hilltop cluster of observatory buildings.
Rainwater Observatory has a video astronomy van for astronomy education outreach. This consists of large LCD monitors which can present both objects visible in the van's telescope plus PowerPoint presentations describing what the telescope is pointed to. The video astronomy van is available for visits within approximately a 100-mile radius of French Camp
.
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...
and Planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
run as an educational ministry of French Camp Academy. It is located near French Camp
French Camp, Mississippi
French Camp is a town in Choctaw County, Mississippi, United States, located eighty miles southwest of Tupelo. The population was 393 at the 2000 census.-Geography:French Camp is located at ....
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the largest observatory in Mississippi with 16+ telescopes, with the largest instruments including a 32-inch Dobsonian telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
and 14-inch Celestron catadioptric
Catadioptric
A catadioptric optical system is one where refraction and reflection are combined in an optical system, usually via lenses and curved mirrors . Catadioptric combinations are used in focusing systems such as search lights, headlamps, early lighthouse focusing systems, optical telescopes,...
telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
. Rainwater is currently awaiting delivery of the Sollee Telescope, a 25-inch research-grade telescope. When installed in the two-story observatory building already constructed in the observatory complex, the Sollee Telescope will be suitable for serious astronomical studies, in the last remaining "dark spot" in Mississippi on the U.S. Dark Skies photograph.
Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is the site for the annual Midsouth Star Gaze. This gathering of amateur astronomers is held in late March or early April each year on the weekend closest to New Moon (to allow for the maximum night-time observing for deep-sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae). The planetarium/activities complex includes one main building with a 30-foot dome and Spitz planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
projector, combined with a computer/activities room. A meeting room and exhibition space building next door includes dormitory space and male/female group bathrooms with showers. Up the hill from the activity buildings is the cluster of observatory buildings for all the reflector
Reflecting telescope
A reflecting telescope is an optical telescope which uses a single or combination of curved mirrors that reflect light and form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered from...
, refractor, and catadioptric
Catadioptric
A catadioptric optical system is one where refraction and reflection are combined in an optical system, usually via lenses and curved mirrors . Catadioptric combinations are used in focusing systems such as search lights, headlamps, early lighthouse focusing systems, optical telescopes,...
telescopes. Various astronomical exhibits such as markers showing the arrangement of the Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
standing stones with their annual rise and set points, a multitude of sundials, and a walking trail that demonstrates the relative distances between the Sun and all its planets, cover the distance between the activities complex and the hilltop cluster of observatory buildings.
Rainwater Observatory has a video astronomy van for astronomy education outreach. This consists of large LCD monitors which can present both objects visible in the van's telescope plus PowerPoint presentations describing what the telescope is pointed to. The video astronomy van is available for visits within approximately a 100-mile radius of French Camp
French Camp
French Camp can refer to:* French Camp, California, in San Joaquin County* French Camp, Amador County, California* French Camp, Yolo County, California* French Camp, Mississippi...
.