Within an hour of the Cosmoscope display facility is a traditional “analog” observatory at Lake Afton. After being co-operated by Wichita State University and local government, this facility is now operated by the volunteer Kansas Astronomical Observers.

 

The primary instrument at the Lake Afton Public Observatory (LAPO) is a legacy 16-inch reflector on a robust fork mount. Our understanding is that such specialized, professional equipment has been hard to bring up to modern expectations for automation and imaging capability, but the band of intrepid volunteers has made progress. Any integration between LAPO and the Cosmoscope should be welcome to both institutions, enhancing the profile and community service of both. We’ll try to update these pages with additional opportunities as specifics become available.

We understand that additional off-hours traffic at the Cosmosphere will incur some extra costs in maintenance and staffing. We hope that this very same traffic and activity will largely offset any expense through additional grant eligibility for the Cosmosphere itself. Still, we hope the Cosmoscope project will result in concrete benefit, namely maintenance, replacement and continual improvement of the hardware currently used to present ViewSpace, the electronic media exhibit provided by NASA.

The same computer used to seek out live astronomical images from across the globe in the evening can be used throughout the week to download and present the ViewSpace slide show during normal museum hours. Graphics space presently used to identify what is likely modest corporate sponsorship of ViewSpace could be employed to display Cosmoscope hours of operation, statement of purpose and relevant branding.