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[patrickm]

Am in Michigan for the weekend and see Oronoko Observatory listed on the Clear Sky Charts as a private observatory near Berrien Springs, MI in SW Michigan. Anybody have any idea what this is? I am intrigued.

We are outside of Union Pier. Got in about 30 minutes of Saturn and Mars watching last night and about 60 seconds of Jupiter watching this morning around 4am local time until the clouds moved in. Good skies if the clouds would just cooperate.

[patrickm]

Took a looksee around SW Michigan on Sunday and wandered over near where the Oronoko site is tagged on the CSS, which is in the middle of a field.

tinyurl.com/oronobs

We weren't able to see anything that looks interesting from the road and weren't gonna trespass to find out and risk buckshot in the behind. I assume this is just another backyard astrofan who got Attilla to post for him/her, and so he stuck the widget in the middle of a field to keep dingbats like me away. If my hunch is correct, it worked!



So where did you end up observing over there? The beach we saw said that it closed at 10:30 and was strictly enforced. Did you find a spot that let you stay past that? If so, do tell!
p

[Kelly]

I live in Berrien Springs and recently learned that the Oronoko Observatory is indeed a private observatory. I'm told that the owner has 14-inch telescope under a dome.

Andrews University, also in Berrien Springs, has a small observatory with a 14-inch telescope. Viewing events are announced on their Facebook page.

[patrickm]

Jan 26, 2012 16:50:58 GMT -6 @Kelly said:

I live in Berrien Springs and recently learned that the Oronoko Observatory is indeed a private observatory. I'm told that the owner has 14-inch telescope under a dome.

Andrews University, also in Berrien Springs, has a small observatory with a 14-inch telescope. Viewing events are announced on their Facebook page.

Thanks for the info, Kelly. That's what I figured.

Will definitely look into Andrews University in Berrien Springs on our next visit. Thanks for the tip.
p