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 The club observatory is located twenty minutes north-east of Des Moines on Hwy. F17 just off of Hwy. 330 west of Baxter. The site is nestled within the beauty of Ashton-Wildwood county park and has superior viewing avenues in all directions.Purpose The building was a collaborative effort between Jasper County and the Des Moines Astronomical Society. A classroom was included with the structure to provide a facility for presenting public lectures as well as a meeting room for club members. History Built in 1983, the observatory has served thousands of visitors from central Iowa, the midwest, and around the world. On a single night in 1986, during the observations of Halley's Comet, twelve-hundred guests were treated to a spectacular show! In April of 1994, 60 visitors were privileged to observe the Aurora Borealis dance across the northern horizon, a sight not uncommon at Ashton-Wildwood Park. In 1997 society members maintained a constant vigil watching the incredible close fly-by of Comet Hyakutake, and during the spectacular Comet Hale-Bopp passage in 1998, more than twelve-hundred central Iowans were treated to observing the comet's fascinating nucleus at the observatory.
Public Commitment In Spring 2002 the grand opening of a new classroom was held at the observatory. The 30'x30' addition was made possible by the generous support of the Fred Maytag Family Foundation and the Jasper County Conservation Board. The new classroom nearly doubles the capacity of the facility and will be an exciting atmosphere for presenting lectures and workshops.
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