The idea of an observatory had been a recurring item at SAAA for many years. Finally, in 2012, the membership voted to proceed with forming an Observatory Committee to develop a plan. Unlike the norm of many astronomical societies, the SAAA decided that ours would be a public observatory, the first in West Michigan.
The list of requirements for the observatory’s location included a dark and open area free of trees, easy year-round access, and accessibility to commercial electrical service. In order to keep costs to a minimum, the use of one of the Ottawa County parks was pursued. Two members proceeded with surveying every park in the system, and they eventually suggested Hemlock Crossing Park as the most suitable.
A meeting was arranged with the Parks and Recreation Director and his staff to present a plan in which SAAA proposed to build a public astronomical observatory at Hemlock Crossing Park. The society would conduct the fundraising (minimum of $75,000), design and build the observatory structure, purchase all necessary equipment, complete all optical alignments, and then donate the facility to the Parks Department. SAAA members meeting all technical and knowledge requirements would operate the facility, providing public observing sessions every clear Friday night and for special astronomical events.
Several years of planning, careful selection of contractors, and final approval by the County’s Park and Recreation Commission culminated in the beginning of construction in the fall of 2021. The foundation for the observatory building as well as the primary installation of electrical power service were completed. At the same time the SAAA ordered the modular observatory base and dome. The largest telescope we could afford was a Meade LX-600, 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain with a pier design for equatorial alignment.
The spring of 2022 was very rainy and cold, which prevented a group of about ten SAAA members from starting the assembly of the building until mid-April. This was followed by the installation of the scope and the electrical wiring needed for powering the dome, telescope, and all peripheral equipment.
Finally, on Saturday, October 8, 2022, the observatory had its dedication and our first official public observing event was attended by over 500 persons.
