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Editing the Powell Observatory WP

Powell Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the Lewis-Young Park near Louisburg, Kansas, about 25 miles south of the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area. It features one of the largest telescopes open to the public in a five-state area, and is operated by members of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City (ASKC).

History
Powell Observatory was built in 1984 by members of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City (ASKC). The property houses multiple telescopes and has a small conference room and visitor's center. The observatory is supported by ASKC membership dues, and by private and public donations.

The Minor planet 25890 Louisburg is named after the home of this observatory.

Telescopes
The observatory's main attraction is the Ruisinger Newtonian reflector telescope, with a single 30 in diameter mirror housed in a dome. This telescope is the largest open to the public in a five-state area including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

The observatory also has a 16 in Dobsonian telescope known as the LCT, the Louisburg Community Telescope, and is used during public and private events.

ASKC members also have access to a computer-controlled 12 in telescope housed behind the Ruisinger, frequently used for research projects and Astrophotography.

Public Outreach
The Powell Observatory property houses multiple telescopes and has a small conference room and visitor's center. The observatory is open to the public on Saturday nights from May through October, and often for notable astronomical events. Monthly public programs include an educational presentation on an interesting astronomy topic in the visitor's center. On clear evenings, ASKC member will present a tour of the night sky, answer questions, and assist with viewing through the telescopes.