The western summer sky from Lake Afton Public Observatory at sunset is stunning!
COVID-19 Update
First off, we want to address our plans related to COVID-19 precautions.
Because local numbers are dropping, vaccinations are increasing, and largely things seem to be opening up, we are going to start accepting walk-ins in addition to reservations, starting immediately.
For the time-being, we still require visitors to wear masks when inside our building.
We have found the reservation system to be very useful, so we will be leaving it in place, and giving priority to reserved slots. What does this mean for walk-ins? On the off chance that we are beyond our building’s safe capacity, people who reserved slots online will be the first ones in the door.
Don’t worry though, we move fast. Everyone will get a shot to see the stars!
Summer Sights
Summer is a great season to visit us! The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye once darkness settles in. Beware the full-moon, as the brightness tends to make it difficult to spot our home-galaxy.
Our hours start later during the summer to account for our late sunsets. Obviously the darker-the-sky the better, so feel free to show up later into our hours!
Volunteers
We’re always looking for more help volunteering at our observatory!
Volunteers fill roles from scope-operator to cashier. We don’t require formal education or credentials, just a willingness to learn and chat with our guests. Don’t worry, we’ll show you the ropes and get you up to speed!
We’ll work around your schedule each month, and have no minimum requirements for time-commitment. Most of our volunteers work one or two nights a month, each shift being about three hours.
If you’d like to know more, please email volunteers@lakeafton.com