Wabash Valley Astronomical Society, Inc.

Wabash Valley Astronomical Society (WVAS) is a non-profit organization that promotes the science and hobby of astronomy. We've been in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana, area since 1971 and our current membership includes people with many different backgrounds and with ages from high school through retirees. People join WVAS because they have an interest in planetary and deep sky observing, locating constellations, astrophotography, telescope making, cosmology, or they just "want to see what's out there". We are affiliated with the Astronomical League, a nationwide federation of astronomy clubs. We are available for group educational presentations and observing sessions. WVAS is a supporting organization of the International Dark Sky Association in their pursuit of reduced light pollution through better lighting practices.

Our base of operations is the West Lafayette Observatory at 600 Cumberland Avenue. (Directions to WLO) The observatory is owned by the West Lafayette School Corporation and is operated by the Purdue University Physics Department and is used for teaching and research. The observatory's exact location is 86º 54.39'W, 40º 27.68'N, 216m.

The observatory has a 20 seat classroom and houses a computerized 16" diameter Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, a 10" Newtonian, an 8" binocular telescope, and an 8" Orion Deep Space Explorer Newtonian. The 10" Newtonian and 8" binocular telescopes were built by WVAS members. The Deep Space Explorer telescope can be signed out by WVAS members and by community organizations.

WVAS activities include:

• Sponsoring public stargazing open houses during the warmer months
• Co-sponsoring the Indiana Family Star Party
• Celebrating Astronomy Day
• Presenting slide shows and observing sessions for community groups
• Annual sponsorship of an astronomy-related award at the Lafayette Regional Science Fair
• Private star parties for general observing by WVAS members
• Building telescopes and accessories
• Group meetings every month
• Constellation presentations
• Technical presentations ranging from astrophotography to pulsar structure

Local Dark-Sky Public Observatory

Prairie Grass Observatory at Camp Cullom, a few miles southeast of Mulberry, has a 28" telescope, one of the largest in the state. It is located in a rural, dark-sky location for far better viewing than is possible in the city of "deep-sky" nebulas and galaxies.  The observatory has other excellent telescopes that are used for public viewing. The observatory is owned and administerred by the the same group that runs Camp Cullom, the Clinton County Foundation for Youth, a United Way agency. WVAS provides technical and man-power support of this facility. The observatory is available for group or public observing events. For information on the observatory, including a schedule of upcoming events, click here or contact Russ Kaspar or John Mahony.

Buying a First Telescope?

Interested in recommendations for a first telescope? Sorry, we don't recommend for or against specific telescopes. However, we have put together a short flier for you to look at to help you determine whether the telescope that you are looking at has the potential to be useful or is more likely to become just another closet filler. Remember that a telescope that is difficult to use will probably not be used.

Need an Acrobat Reader for the above document?  Click here.

Want to Name a Star?

Thinking of spending good money to name a star? There's a bridge in Brooklyn that could use a more imaginative name too, but it's not for sale either. Save your money and get the straight facts here.

Clear Sky Clock

Links

WVAS Membership
Meeting Schedule
Public Events
Outreach Event pictures
Observation aids
Member Projects
Star Party pictures
Club Astrophotography Gallery
Administrivia (Officers & Mailing address)
Unofficial History
Click here for links to Astronomy related Web Pages

   Wabash Valley Astronomical Society, Inc.
   P.O. Box 2020
   West Lafayette, IN 47996-2020