RainwaterObservatory.org
Title
Rainwater Observatory & Planetarium
Description
About Rainwater Observatory
The Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is an educational ministry of French Camp Academy. Even though we do have some research-grade equipment, the facility's mission is primarily educational. We share this facility with interested amateur astronomers, school science classes, scout, church, or civic groups. The observatory site is located on State Highway 413 just off of the Natchez Trace Parkway in central Mississippi near the village of French Camp (about halfway between Jackson and Tupelo). (Travel Information)
The Observatory, the largest in the state, has 16 telescopes plus other optical instruments. These instruments are spread out on our fenced-in hilltop site, which is open, by appointment, to both individuals and groups. The instruments are housed in nine small buildings and on five outdoor piers. Our largest telescope is a 32-inch Tectron with Starport computer assist. We also have a 20.5 inch Dobsonian with computer. Next in size are a Meade DS-16, a Celestron C-14, a 12.5 inch Ritchey-Cretien Cassegrain, a 12 inch LX-200 Schmidt-Cassegrain, a 12 inch fork- mounted Newtonian, a 6 inch D & G refractor, 10" and 8" Schmidt-Cassegrains, three 6 inch Newtonians, a 6" AstroPhysics refractor, a 4 inch Unitron refractor, a 4 inch SCT, an 80mm refractor, 50, 70, and 80mm binoculars, and a 9.5 inch Maksutov Cassegrain. Two loaner telescopes, an 8 inch Dobsonian and a 4.5 inch Newtonian can be borrowed.
For daytime viewing, we have five telescopes with three different kinds of Solar filters (H-alpha, glass, and mylar) as well as solar projection. Our daytime exhibits include a 300 foot scale model solar system, a large wall-mounted solar projection Analema/Calendar, sun clock, sundials, an 80' circumference celestial sphere, and a full-sized Stonehenge model that shows solstice and equinox sunrise and sunset points. These exhibits are used to demonstrate the Earth's motion and axial tilt, the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit and how the ancients predicted eclipses. Narrated slide presentations and talks on selected astronomical topics are available to visiting groups on request. An outdoor amphitheater and picnic/camping area are just down the hill from the Observatory.
