The Centennial Observatory

The observatory features the one of the world's largest fully handicapped-accessible public telescopes. The main instrument is the Norman Herrett telescope, a 24" Ritchey-Chretien reflector on a computer-controlled fork mount, manufactured by DFM Engineering of Longmont, Colorado, USA. The observatory features an elevator to take visitors to its second-story location at the south end of the museum. Once there, a wheelchair elevator is available to lift visitors with limited mobility to the observing deck under a six meter (20 foot) motorized dome manufactured by Observa-Dome of Jackson, Mississippi, USA.  The ARE-125, an optical "periscope" designed by DFM, allows unprecedented access to the telescope for wheelchair bound or limited mobility vistors. An Apogee Alta E47+ CCD camera is available for imaging, a generous gift of Dick and Jody Shotwell.