2025 Public Season
We are excited to announce the opening of the 2025 Public Season which will be on Saturday, May 3. Please join us for these fun and educational evenings of star gazing.Typical public night activies inclulde (subject to weather and staff availability):
- Solar observing
- Member telescopes
- Louisburg Community Telescope
- Presentation (see topics below)
- Live imaging with the 30" Ruisinger Telescope
- Eyepiece viewing with the 30" Ruisinger Telescope and other instruments (subject to weather and availability)
Dress for the outdoors and bring your own lawn chair and/or blanket. The field has been treated for mosquitoes but there may still be a few around so bring your own repellant if desired.
- Programs will proceed clear or cloudy.
- Rain will result in cancellation.
- Check facebook.com/astronomykc for the latest updates.
Note that mid-summer programs will run fairly late into the evening due to late sunset times. For those with younger children, please plan accordingly. You may want to consider visiting early or late in the season when darkness begins earlier.
Programs usually start about sunset. Please check back for exact times.
Donations Appreciated
We do not require an admission fee, but as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we do request a donation to help maintain and operate the observatory.
Requested Donation: 13 & Over: $10 | 6-12: $5 | 5 and Under: $0
(We accept cash, check, major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App.)
Private Events
The observatory is available for private groups and events year-around, subject to availability of volunteer staff. Please email powell@askc.org or call 913.438.3825. A reservation fee of $100 + $5 per person is required to reserve the observatory for private events.
About the Observatory
Built in 1985 by society members, the observatory is located about 25 miles South of Kansas City in Lewis-Young Park, just North of Louisburg, KS. At this location, skies are much darker than in the city. The observatory has one of the largest telescopes open to the public in a five-state area - the Ruisinger Telescope, a Newtonian reflector with a 30" diameter mirror. The telescope is installed in a 20 foot dome, with an equatorial fork mount and computerized control systems.
Other instruments:
- Imaging Center with an 11" Schmidt Cassegrain telescope and iOptron mount, housed in a smaller adjacent dome.
- Louisburg Community Telescope featuring 16" and 12" Newtonian telescopes on Dobsonian mounts, housed in a separate roll-off roof building.
- Lunt solar telescope with tunable hydrogen-alpha filter and iOptron mount.
About Powell Observatory
Directions to Powell Observatory
Take US 69 Highway to the Louisburg exit. Go east on Highway 68 (West Amity) ¾ mile to Broadway. Turn left and proceed 1 mile north to 271st Street. Turn left and proceed ¾ mile west to Jingo Road. Turn right and proceed 7/10 mile north to the entrance to Lewis Young Park. Proceed 3/10 mile west on Melrose past the tractor pull area on your left and around the curve. The observatory is on the left just past the line of trees. Parking is on the north side of the street.
You can also find it on Google Maps by entering the name "Powell Observatory" or just click this link.
The address is:
26500 Melrose Street
Louisburg, KS 66053
Etiquette
No white lights (headlights, flashlights, mobile phones, etc.) are allowed at the observatory. Red flashlights are allowed. Please dim your headlights when approaching and leaving the observatory.
Pets shall be maintained on a leash at all times and controlled. No pets, running, or play around telescopes.
We are located in a public park and all park rules must be followed.
Powell Weather Station
Sky Conditions Forecast
