In the mood for a little stargazing? No, we’re not talking Miley Cyrus or Robert Pattinson. These are the oldies but goodies: Pegasus, Hercules, Jupiter and the moon.
Rather than paparazzi or superstars, the highlights of a trip to Pine Valley Ranch Park are telescopes and supernovas.
The William Baehr Observatory was built there for Baehr, a wealthy Chicago businessman who took up part-time residence at his ranch in the foothills in the 1920s.
Jefferson County Open Space now owns the ranch, making it accessible to the public for hiking, fishing, picnicking and educational programs offered through the Lookout Mountain Nature Center.
An amateur astronomer, Baehr commissioned a custom 1937 6-inch refractor telescope and had the observatory installed to house it. The observatory was built using narrow-gauge railroad tracks and wheels, as well as parts of a Model A car to turn the dome. It still contains all of the original equipment.
“It’s a testament to the quality of workmanship that it is still completely functional,” says Peg Alig, an interpretive specialist at the nature center.
A weight-driven clock drive allows the scope to track its target slowly, a feature that allows for astrophotography using long exposures.
“You could set it up on Jupiter, say, and step away,” Alig says. “It was very high tech for 1937.”
Alig and other members of the astronomy team are carefully trained to properly use, maintain and store the telescope for preservation.
“We call it putting it to bed,” she says.
The public programs at the observatory spotlight changing themes depending on the season. Tonight’s theme is “Jupiter and the Moon.” The educational staff will take visitors outside to learn about the moon’s phases, craters and geology.
Inside the observatory, participants will learn about Jupiter and other gas giants, and take a look at Jupiter’s moons and atmosphere.
The next program is “Late Summer Skies,” set for Sept. 11. That’s when stargazers can view the “summer triangle” of three bright stars — Vega, Altair and Deneb — located, respectively, in the constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. Viewers can also look for other constellations such as Pegasus and Hercules, or use a modern 10-inch portable telescope to zoom in on deep-space galaxies and star clusters.
On Sept. 26, the Junior Astronomers program is designed specifically for kids ages 6-10, and events continue monthly through the winter and semimonthly through the warmer seasons.
The programs are popular, and the observatory can only hold about 30 people at a time. Reservations fill up well in advance, so participants should plan to book a spot at least a week or two ahead of time.
“It was never intended for public use; it was just one man’s private observatory,” Alig says. “But it’s a beautiful little piece of history.”
