Calumet Astronomical Society - Conway Observatory | What’s happening in Indianapolis

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Calumet Astronomical Society - Conway Observatory

Address: 
19100 Chase St.
Lowell , IN , 46356
Phone: (773) 639-5491
41° 16' 17.022" N, 87° 22' 21.0432" W
See map: Google Maps
http://www.casonline.org/conway.html
info@casonline.org
Contact name: 
Conway Observatory
Business/organization type: 
Planetarium
Nonprofit organization
What our organization offers: 
Exhibits
Subjects / Categories: 
Science
Arts: Visual
Nature/Outdoors
The Calumet Astronomical Society operates the Thomas Conway Observatory, located just southeast of Lowell, Indiana. Like many good ideas, this one started small and just keeps growing. In 1998 and 1999, John Myers of the Bethlehem Steel Institute for Career Development held telescope making classes at its facility in Burns Harbor, Indiana. The Institute provides classes in useful and personal enrichment topics as a negotiated benefit of the United Steelworkers of America's labor contract with steel companies. For a number of years the Institute has had a program of constructing a building in their parking lot in Burns Harbor as a living laboratory for training in the construction crafts such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and steel framing construction. In early 2000, it was decided that due to the enthusiasm generated by a telescope building class, that the next building would be designed and built as an astronomical observatory. As with the previous two buildings that ICD had constructed, a donee for this building needed to be found. After contacting schools and parks throughout Porter County, Indiana Dunes State Park agreed to locate this observatory on the park property.

CAS continued as a small social organization until 1990, when under the leadership of Steve Miller, it moved its observing site to Lemon Lake County Park in Crown Point and began public outing observing sessions. These were continued through the 1990s, drawing much public attention. Additional public events were held during the late 1990's at Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Deep River County Park, Deep River Water Park, Sunset Hill Farm County Park, Taltree Arboretum, and Oak Ridge Prairie County Park. Partnerships were entered into with NIAG, the Northern Indiana Astronomical Group, and the Indiana Family Star Party sponsored by the Wabash Valley Astronomical Society. Throughout this period, meetings were held at the Munster Public Library.

In 2000, CAS incorporated as an IRS 501c3 not for profit public benefit corporation. A board of directors was formed and handled business separate from the Society general meetings.

In 2000, CAS also became involved in what became the Conway Observatory project. This led to the observatory's installation south of Buckley Homestead County Park in Lowell during the summer of 2005 and the establishment of the Calumet Astronomy Center on this property.

Today the Society is a fellowship of approximately 100 amateur astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts that contribute to the Society's public outreach mission and pursue their own goals in astronomy. Active partnerships with the Lake County Parks and Recreation, and Purdue Calumet University result in superior public programs and facilities. CAS is the most active amateur astronomy organization in the Chicago area. Meeting are held at the Merrillville Community Planetarium in Merrillville, Indiana.

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