The astronomical society of Kansas City, or ASKC has owned and operated Powell observatory at Louisburg’s Lewis-Young Park for the past 35 years, but they recently got an offer they couldn’t refuse. Plans are to move the observatory to land recently attained by Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory and Education Center just East of Louisburg. They hope to relocate the facility by 2021.
According to the Miami County Republic, ASKC President Rick Henderson says they will have up to 20 acres to build a new Powell observatory complex. Built in 1984 by ASKC members, the observatory has one of the largest telescopes open to the public in a five-state area-the ruisinger telescope, a newtonian with a 30-inch diameter mirror. In addition, the observatory has other telescopes available for public viewing.
The observatory is open to the public Saturday nights, May through October, and for special astronomical events.
