On the subject of observatories...

My last post detailed my home observatory setup here in central Texas. Well, I also had the distinct pleasure of being able to teach basic astronomy and astrophotography at the Eagle Eye Observatory at the Canyon of the Eagles resort near Burnet, Texas. I worked there from July 2022 to the end of last year (2025) when the park shut down. The main astronomer there, Jim Sheets, is trying to revive the observatory and maybe I'll teach there again However, it was a great few years and I truly cherish the experience.

The Eagle Eye Observatory (EEO) is another roll-off roof design like mine. However, it's quite large and has room for several scopes and seating for around 25-30 people. At time of shut down, it had a 14" Celestron EdgeHD SCT and a 12" Meade SCT, both on Celestron CGX mounts. There was also an 11" Celestron SCT for imaging and a Coronado for solar viewing. It was a great setup!

The 14" Celestron EdgeHD SCT. 

I taught a few nights a week to help Jim out, and also during busy holiday times like Spring Break and Christmas. We had a TON of folks come through, from all age ranges, from near and far and with varying degrees of astronomical knowledge. My sessions, specifically, started with an overview of the observatory and equipment, a naked-eye tour of currently visible constellations, bright stars and planets, and then views through the scopes of the night's highlights. I tried to always look for the big story during each season, like using the constellation of Orion to discuss the lifecycle of stars (starting with a view of the Orion Nebula as stellar nursery, then with Betelgeuse as a view into the end-stages of a star's lifecycle. 

Most people came in not really knowing what to expect. Many left with their perspectives very much changed! Viewing the planets, getting an understand of how the night sky "works", peering at different deep sky objects and discussing the latest astronomical news when able really seemed to resonate. I would get all sorts of questions, including how planets were formed, what are black holes, and, yes, the question of extraterrestrial life. All were answered as scientifically as possible. Honestly, the best questions came from the many children that visited - some were really advanced!

An inside view of the observatory.

I learned a ton about astronomy outreach through this experience. I'll share some high-level thoughts here:

1. People want to see through a telescope. Even if conditions aren't brilliant, seeing just one or two bright stars or the moon will typically blow their minds.
2. People will try for a photo. They will want to try and get a photo of the moon or a planet with their cell phone. Let them try If it upsets your program, have them hang back afterwards and guide them through it.
3. Add a theme to your presentation. If the Moon and Jupiter are up, focus on the moons of the solar system. If it's galaxy season, use views of those to describe things like gravitation pull and galaxy creation.
4. Don't get too complicated. Explain things simply and give those explanations some wow factor. Make the concepts easy to understand for all age groups.
5. Let questions from your audience guide you. If someone's asking about planets, hunt those down, even the distant ones. Talk about exoplanets. Sometimes, let the audience lead you - it guarantees they will get the most out of your teaching session.
6. Interact!. Kids there? Let them hit the GOTO button on your keypad and watch their faces when the scope slews to an object. If the crowd seem super keen, tell them how they can into the astronomy hobby, even without serious gear (like naked-eye astronomy or using binoculars they may already have around the house).
7. Be available after the session. If you sense super keen folks in your group, run through your session and then stay back and discuss further with them. Give them one-on-one time, show them how they can explore things further. Especially the younger ones - you never know if you're talking to the next DeGrasse-Tyson or Carl Sagan.
8. Don't condescend. If someone tells you they saw a UFO back in the 80's, ask them about it. If someone feels or acts like they are asking a silly question, highlight how important it is to know the answer. 
9. Be aware of different cultural views of the night sky. While I would always explain how Western society leaned into Greek mythology and depictions of the stars/constellations, outwardly recognize that other cultures had their own interpretations of the night sky and made their own contributions to astronomy. 
10. Make it fun! Seriously. Don't be an astronomy snob waffling on about optical systems, upper atmosphere dynamics, planetary motion and such. Keep it simple, crack the odd related joke and show your audience a good time. They'll come back for more.

So, hopefully you can find a way to get a similar gig. I certainly grew from my experience at the Eagle Eye Observatory, and will be using that experience to start something interesting soon...