Skip to main content

Calvin Observatory

Image
2017-09-01-PreFontaine-IMG_7214

Calvin boasts access to two fully-equipped observatories, one on Calvin's campus and a robotically-operated telescope in Rehoboth, New Mexico. The central mission of the Calvin University Observatory is educational, and the telescopes are used by students at all levels from first year non-science majors to fourth year physics majors.

The laboratory portion of most Calvin astronomy classes contains some "new science" project. Dedicated telescopes of modest aperture are especially well suited to contribute to the study of objects that vary in position or brightness with time.

www.calvin.edu/observatory

 

Observatory equipment

Both sites

Telescope: Optical Guidance Systems RC16-75F with carbon fiber tube    
Guidescope: Takahashi refractor FS-78, 3" diameter   
Guide camera: ST-237   
Slide Mirror: Van Slyke Engineering Versaport Slider   
Dome automation: Meridian controls solar powered, computer controlled dome motors    
Power automation: X10   
Telescope control software: Comsoft PC-TCS   
Planetarium software: Software Bisque TheSkyX   
Camera control and image processing software: Diffraction Limited Maxim DL    
Astrometry software: PinPoint (from DC-3)   
User interface: ACP ASCOM DC-3 Dreams (Astronomy software)    
Remote operation: RealVNC   
Rack to support camera: custom built

Calvin-Rehoboth Telescope near Gallup, NM

Dome: Ash Manufacturing Company 10'6" diameter REB dome   
Camera: Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-10XE   
Filter Wheel: Two Optec IFW wheels with 2" filters (UBVRI, H-alpha and red continuum)   
Focal Reducer: Optec WideField 0.62X Telecompressor    
Web cam: TRENDnet TV-IP612P (installed May 2011)

Calvin Observatory in Grand Rapids, MI

Dome: Astro-Tec 15' diameter   
Video Camera: Astrovid StellaCam3   
Camera: Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-8XE   
Filter Wheel: Santa Barbara Instrument Group CFW-8 with 1.25" filters (UBVRI, H-alpha and red continuum, O III and green continuum)   
Focal Reducer: Optical Guidance Systems 0.63x   
Spectroscope: Santa Barbara Instrument Group Self-Guided Spectrograph, mounted with SBIG ST-7E camera    

 

Also used in the Calvin Observatory:

Two Meade LX-90 telescopes 8" f/10 x2    
Binoculars: A Celestron 7x50 and an Orion 10x70.

 

Location

1726 Knollcrest Circle SE
49546

42.931015, -85.58867

Accessibility Info

Wheelchair access: Although the Calvin dome, constructed in 1969, is not accessible by wheelchair, we have portable telescopes. Viewing sessions will be arranged on request. Call the observatory director (Larry Molar, 526-6341) to arrange time and place

Starting at west parking lot crosswalk near the large yellow and orange sculpture (see the “DeVries Hall” label on the map), take the paved walk between DeVries Hall and the Spoelhof University Center. Rather than taking the long ramp directly up to the DeVries Hall / Science Building entrance, stay on ground level by taking the right fork and continue walking around the Science Building’s south and east sides until reaching a sign saying "North Hall." Enter the first double set of double glass doors (red arrow on map). Don't enter North Hall, but enter the stairwell door bearing a sign “Observatory, 4th Floor” immediately to your left. (GPS coordinates: approximately 85.58861 degrees west and 42.93126 degrees north, WGS84 map datum.) Then climb the stairway three flights to the roof level.

There is an elevator from the ground floor to the third floor, leaving just the final flight of steps to the roof level. Until 10 PM it may be reached by going forty feet down the hall to the left, and turning right at the overhead sign "elevator". Exit the elevator corridor on 3rd floor, turning left to the stairwell door. Proceed up the final staircase to the observatory. The other doors should be open until 11 PM. If outer or lower stairwell door is locked, call 526-6435 or 526-8847 to speak to the observers on duty.