Palisades-Dows Observatory
A quiet moment during the day at Pal-Dows.
In cooperation with the Linn County Conservation Department, the CAA broke ground for an observatory at Palisades-Dows Preserve in 1987.
In addition to the recently constructed Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center, the facility has two buildings and several permanently mounted telescopes other buildings.
Visiting Pal-Dows
- The observatory is located on the southern edge of Palisades State Park at 1365 Ivanhoe Road. The facility is approximately 15 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
- See the map page for details).
- Watch out for deer!
The domed building houses a late 1970s-era Celestron classical
cassegrain
telescope with a 16-inch mirror. This rare telescope was generously donated
by
The University of Iowa through the Department
of Physics and Astronomy.
A larger structure with a roll-off roof houses a Meade LX200 Schmidt cassegrain telescope with a 16-inch mirror and a refracting telescope with a 6-inch lens.
Electricity is supplied to the two buildings, and an illuminated walkway leads from the parking lot to the buildings and observing pads (also supplied with electrical power.)
While everyone is welcome to visit the observatory for scheduled events, membership in the CAA entitles individuals to use of the facilities and society equipment.
Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center
The Boller & Chivens telescope before removal from The University of Iowa's Hills observatory.
Greater Cedar Rapids and Linn County have a unique opportunity to create what will be the premier public astronomy site in Iowa!
The recently opened facility will become the home of 16-inch robotic telescope and a superb 24-inch Boller & Chivens classical cassegrain telescope that was graciously donated by The University of Iowa through the efforts of Professor Steven Spangler and others in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. This telescope will be refurbished and upgraded by members of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers and is expected to be put into service, along with the robotic telescope, in early 2008.
Learn more about this project at the EIOLC web page.
