Getting started for the evening
	Setting August Milky Way
	Canopus culminating on the Southern horizon
	The Zodiacal Light, Venus, and the Milky Way

The Grasslands Observatory is owned by Tim Hunter. The Director of the observatory is James McGaha, who is in charge of the observatory's operations. The Grasslands Observatory was started in 1985 when Tim Hunter purchased 20 acres of land at a remote location in Southeastern Arizona approximately an hour's drive from Tucson. The site has no horizon obstructions in any direction and sits on a large grassy plateau surrounded by distant mountains. It is at 5000 feet elevation, and there is only minor light pollution from distant Tucson, Sierra Vista, and Nogales, Arizona (and Sonora, Mexico).

In 1986, a 24-inch f/5 equatorial Newtonian (f/20 Cassegrain telescope) was purchased from its builder Jeff Shaffer and installed in a 20 x 20 foot roll-off building. The building was designed by Tim Hunter and James McGaha and built by them under the guidance of Jeff Shaffer. James McGaha coordinated the moving and installation of the telescope in its new facility. In 1995, a separate Control Room was built to facilitate CCD imaging. At that time, the telescope was changed from mainly visual use to electronic imaging.
 

Now Available:
The Northern Caldwell Objects in Color

Selected Southern Caldwell Objects

Many New Images

We Support:

IDA

The Astronomical League

The Observatory Building consists of a 20 x 20 foot roll-off roof structure housing the fork mounted 24-inch f/5 Newtonian reflector. To the direct West of the Observatory Building is the Control Room, a separate 14 x 14 foot building which is heated and insulated. It contains the controls for the telescope and also has a microwave, refrigerator, computers, a bed, power, and telephone. Unfortunately, there is no running water.

This site last updated on

Sunday April 7, 2013

Web Page Redesigned and Uploaded 9 March 2007