John Bryan Observatory Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

The Brigadier: As the owner has not responded to my prior note, I am archiving this listing.

The Brigadier
Geocaching.com Volunteer Cache Reviewer

More
Hidden : 1/15/2006
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


   This is an ammo can located in John Bryan State Park. John Bryan is the most scenic state park in western Ohio. The park contains a remarkable limestone gorge cut by the Little Miami River which is designated as a state and national scenic river. A portion of the gorge itself is designated as a national natural landmark.


John Bryan Observatory





   In the late 1960’s the Air Force constructed a top-secret facility at what is now John Bryan State Park, a few miles northeast of Yellow Springs, OH. The observatory housed two telescopes, one on a modified Baker-Nunn four-axis mount, for tracking and taking photometric measurements of Soviet satellites. By the mid-1970’s the site was abandoned, its defense function being replaced by a new facility on Maui. The Air Force telescopes and instrumentation were removed and the property reverted to the State of Ohio park system. The building lay dormant until 1977. In 1977, the MVAS was fortunate to be able to secure a lease with the State of Ohio (ODNR) for the facility in John Bryan State Park. The facility sports a 15" dome as well as a 20' X 20' room with a roll-off roof, and is located in a fenced-in compound providing significant security for its equipment. Although the light pollution has increased significantly during the last three years, the JBSP facility is still a premier amateur facility that sees regular, year-round use.

    Equipment available at the John Bryan Observatory include the MVAS's 16" f/5.3 Newtonian, a 12.5" f/11 reflector, a 9" f/13.3 refractor, a 10" cassegrain reflector, a 10" f4.5 equatorial and motorized Newtonian reflector, a motor driven camera tracker, and a few smaller scopes including a 10" Dobsonian reflector and a 4" and 90mm refractor. The 12" has been completely rebuilt and now includes a dual-axis drive and corrector.

    The restored Merry Go Round observatory is also located at this facility. This observatory was designed and built by famed amateur astronomer Leslie Peltier who used it for observing variable stars.

    Use of the John Bryan Observatory is somewhat limited due to the location on state park property. The park closes its gates 30 minutes after sunset because of dangers associated with the deep Clifton Gorge that traverses the park. Fortunately, however, MVAS members can obtain a set of keys to gain access to the Observatory upon successful completion of a "qualification" procedure established by the MVAS Qualifications Committee. The MVAS also sponsors numerous "star-gazes" for the public at John Bryan State Park.

Link to MVAS

This cache placed with permission from the State of Ohio Parks.
Please observe all the park rules!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us

Inventory

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all 5 bookmark lists...