| The Grasslands Observatory is owned by Tim Hunter. The Director of the observatory is James McGaha, who is in charge of the observatory's operations. The Grasslands Observatory was started in 1985 when Tim Hunter purchased 20 acres of land at a remote location in Southeastern Arizona approximately an hour's drive from Tucson. The site has no horizon obstructions in any direction and sits on a large grassy plateau surrounded by distant mountains. It is at 5000 feet elevation, and there is only minor light pollution from distant Tucson, Sierra Vista, and Nogales, Arizona (and Sonora, Mexico). In 1986, a 24-inch f/5 equatorial Newtonian (f/20 Cassegrain telescope) was purchased from its builder Jeff Shaffer and installed in a 20 x 20 foot roll-off building. The building was designed by Tim Hunter and James McGaha and built by them under the guidance of Jeff Shaffer. |
To the direct west of the original Observatory Building is the Warm Room (sometime called the Control Room) a separate 14 x 14 foot building which is heated and insulated. It contains the controls for multiple telescope, a microwave, refrigerator, computers, bed, power, telephone, and internet service. Unfortunately, there is no running water. The Warm Room was originally built in 1995 when the original 24-inch telescope was changed from mainly visual use to electronic imaging. In 2013 the Warm Room/Control Room was expanded considerably by a 14 x 26 foot additon, and a separate 12 x 14 foot Storage Room was added. A new weather station and an All Sky Cam were also added. Since 2015, the Grasslands Observatory has been significally improved and enlarged with the addition of three new 14 x 14 foot roll-off roof buildings containing telescopes for remote operations. A PlaneWave 24-inch CDK24 f/6.5 telescope, an ASA 20-inch f/3.6 telescope, and a Takahashi Epsilon 180 f/2.8 telescope are in active use via remote operation. Further improvement in software and hardware for more "automatic" operation is continuing. tbh 11 November 2017; tbh Tuesday May 21, 2019 |
Getting started for the evening 
Setting August Milky Way 
Canopus culminating on the Southern horizon 
The Zodiacal Light, Venus, and the Milky Way 
Looking north from the observatory during the day At the gate looking south to the Observatory 
Rainbow at the Grasslands Observatory 
More rainbows at the Grasslands Observatory Sharpless and Other Miscellaneous Objects The Astronomical League 
The Barnard Objects - Then and Now 
The Sky at Night - easy enjoyment from your backyard Now Available in their entirety: Arp Objects Barnard Objects in Color Messier Objects Northern Caldwell Objects Southern Caldwell Objects We Support: IDA (now DarkSky International) 
