Observing Facilities, Sites

''Observing'' in all its forms is the heart and soul of amateur astronomy.

To meet our membership's diverse observing needs we maintain five unique regional observing sites, four with observatories. Each site includes observing amenities, ranging from a simple warming structure and concrete pads to a fully-equipped observatory housing multiple telescopes. Star parties take place at each site on a rotating basis. Four are also available to MAS members for private use.

For complete information on each of the Society's sites -- directions, descriptions and information regarding accessing the facilities and equipment -- click on the location of interest on the map below, or on the site name in the "Observing Site Summary" that follows:

Click the site name
on the map
to see the facilities web page.

Click Here
to open an interactive Google Map and get turn by turn directions to a site.

Observing Site Summary [Click on a site name for complete information.]
	Cherry Grove	Onan Observatory	LLCC	Joseph J. Casby	Metcalf
Access	24/7	24/7 (Requires pre-arrangement if after normal park hours)	MAS Members only; Limited schedule See Events Calendar)	24/7 MAS members who have attended Belwin Orientation	24/7
Annual Events	Messier Marathon Virgo Venture Mini Messier Marathon	Astronomy Day Camping with the Stars Fall Astronomy Day	Northern Nights Star Fest	Belwin Conservancy Member Events
Concrete pads	Yes	Yes (Observatory Plaza)	No	Yes (3)	Yes (3)
Electricity	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Equipment	24" StarMaster 14" Meade LX200 8" & 10" loaner Dob's	More than 12 telescopes 16" LX200, C-14, SV152 20" Obsession, Binoculars	30" Obsession 25" Obsession 10" Meade SCT	10" TMB refractor TMB 130, ST120	None
Nearest major town	Cannon Falls	Norwood-Young America	Aitkin / McGregor	Woodbury	Woodbury
Observatory	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Parking	Shared with observing field	Separate from observing field and observatory	On or adjacent to observing field	Room for 5-6 cars near observatory	Shared with observing field
Piers	No	No	No	No	Yes
Privacy	Off the beaten path, but on intersection of two county roads	Public park	Conservation Center	Private land	Secluded
Restrooms	Outhouse	Outhouse; nearby seasonal indoor at beach; year-round indoor at park entrance	Yes	Yes In nearby classroom, requires code for access	Outhouse
Security	Yes	Park closed to public after dark; Caretaker on site	Parking permit required	Gated with security alarm, Caretaker on site	Fenced and gated
Sky quality	Very Dark Twin Cities light dome to N, minor to SE; Scattered small town light domes around horizon	Dark Twin Cities light dome to N and NE; Scattered small town light domes around horizon	Extremely dark	Moderately polluted by St. Paul, Woodbury and surrounding communities	Moderately polluted by St. Paul, Woodbury and surrounding communities
Sleeping	Bunks in warming house (Requires combination)	Two bunks in observatory (Keyholder access only)	Accommodations available to MAS members	None	Bunks in warming house (Requires combination)
Warming facility	Yes Combination Lock	Yes Keyholder access only	Yes Accommodations available to MAS members	Yes In nearby classroom, requires code	Yes Combination Lock
Other	Separate key required to access 24" dob	Regular Public Star Parties held from March - November Public S. P. Schedule	MAS-provided parking permit required Review Rules of Use	Review observatory Guidelines / Procedure and Visitation Rules
Contact Info	[Click for info]	[Click for info]	[Click for info]	[Click for info]	[Click for info]

Observing Facilities, Sites

Click the site nameon the mapto see the facilities web page.

Click Hereto open an interactive Google Map and get turn by turn directions to a site.

Observing Site Summary

Click the site name
on the map
to see the facilities web page.

Click Here
to open an interactive Google Map and get turn by turn directions to a site.