User:Charlemagne920/Westview Observatory

The Westview Observatory is the only amateur astronomical observatory in Ohio that allows interested groups to book a viewing on a custom schedule of their choice. It was established in Cridersville, Ohio in 2012, and uses a ground-based Meade Schmidt Newtonian telescope with an 8 inch mirror (at F4). For visual observing, Westview Observatory uses its Mallincam Xtreme astrovideo camera.

Goals
The goals of the observatory are to promote the love of astronomy and appreciation for the beauty of the universe. The observatory utilizes this by hosting star party viewing sessions for local school groups, scouts, church youth groups, and other interested individuals. Despite the light pollution prevalent in west-central Ohio, the observatory has been able to capture useful photos using long exposure images made through a Canon DSLR camera that has been modified for astronomical use. The images taken at the observatory are uploaded to the Wikimedia Commons to promote the exploration of space by amateur astronomers.

Gallery
Images from the Westview Observatory are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike License.