Star Party

Morgan County Observatory hosts a star party out in the wilds where there's no artificial light.

"The Scope

Our telescope was custom built by Ferson Optics in Ocean Springs, MS in 1967 for the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. It was Ferson's model 1216. The telescope was decommissioned by the Academy and donated by the U.S. Navy to the Morgan County Schools in 1993. Refurbished, repaired and upgraded with funding raised by the Morgan County Observatory Foundation it was placed back in operation at the Morgan County Observatory in December 2001. It is a unique dual Cassegrain / Newtonian scope with a switchable secondary mirror and a 16" primary mirror composed of Zerodur. It weighs approximately 3,000 pounds and has a focal length in cassegrain mode of 224 inches or an F/14 ratio. The Newtonian focus is 64 inches or F/4 ratio.

The value of the scope has been estimated at $500,000.00. The original cost of production was approximately $ 23,500 in 1967.

Ferson Optical made four 1216 telescopes. The U.S. Naval Academy received the first production run (This telescope now resides here at the Greenwood Elementary School, Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, West Virginia). Colgate University, Hamilton, NY purchased one. St. Marks Academy, Dallas, Texas purchased one - currently being restored & moved to the Dallas Astronomical Society site in southern Oklahoma. and the last at Werner Von Braun in Huntsville, Alabama - still in its dome but missing some parts & not functional, with optics said to be superb."

August 22, 2008 Public Star Party at Observatory 8:30 PM
August 29, 2008 Public Star Party at Observatory 8:30 PM