Physics
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
(580) 774-3266
Fax: (580) 774-3115
physics@swosu.edu
Observatory Information
The
SWOSU Observatory is located northeast of Weatherford
on Lawter Road between Deer Creek Road and Airport
Road. The
facilities are used for regular viewing sessions
scheduled in conjunction with SWOSU's Astronomy course
each semester. Public viewing
sessions are held by arrangement only.
The observatory houses a 16-inch Cassegrain-focus telescope on an equatorial mount. The
16-inch-diameter objective mirror makes it possible to view many dim and distant
objects which are invisible to the naked eye and
to binoculars and smaller telescopes. With the rotating
dome and a slot opening of over 90o, views of the entire sky
in 360o are
attained. Computer control allows for rapid aiming of the telescope
to view any object that is above the horizon. An additional 8-inch
Cassegrain telescope equipped to accept a camera mount is piggy-backed
to the system. The
equatorial mount with clock drive corrects for the Earth's rotation
(which makes the stars seem to move from east to west) and eliminates
the "smearing" of
images on long-time photographic exposures.
Outside
the dome, a fenced patio serves as a wind-sheltered
location for additional telescope, binocular, and naked-eye viewing. Students
and visitors are guided through a wide-angle view
of the skies that is not possible from within the dome.