Observatories

Powell Observatory

Home to the 30" Ruisinger Telescope near Louisburg, Kansas

Photo: Dylan Harrelson

2026 Public Program Schedule

Public programs are held Saturday evenings. All dates subject to weather. Check our Facebook page for cancellations.

Public Night Activities

Typical public night activities include (subject to weather and staff availability)

• Solar observing
• Member telescopes
• Louisburg Community Telescope
• Presentation on a featured topic
• Live imaging with the 30" Ruisinger Telescope
• Eyepiece viewing with the 30" Ruisinger Telescope and other instruments (subject to weather and availability)
  
  

Most activities will be outside, with images from the Ruisinger telescope shown remotely on a large screen. 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 repellent if desired.

Programs will proceed clear or cloudy. Rain will result in cancellation — check our Facebook page 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. Program start time for our last program in October is 7:00 PM.

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..

We accept cash, check, major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App.

Private Events

The observatory is available for private groups and events year-around, subject to availability of volunteer staff.

A reservation fee of $100 + $5 per person is required.

Photo: Jake Roberts

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 Ruisinger Telescope, a Newtonian reflector with a 30" diameter mirror, is one of the largest telescopes open to the public in a five-state area. 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

Powell Observatory is owned and operated by the Astronomical Society of Kansas City and staffed by volunteer ASKC members.

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.

Address:
26500 Melrose Street
Louisburg, KS 66053

Etiquette

• Use of white lights (headlights, flashlights, mobile phones, etc.) is discouraged at the observatory. Red flashlights are preferred. Red light helps preserve night vision and allows your eyes to stay adjusted to the dark. 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.
  

Current Conditions