Individuals looking for a top vacation destination should consider Delaware County, Ohio, a great location for many different tourist attractions. Delaware County is located directly above Columbus in west-central Ohio and has plenty of nature preserves, breweries, parks, and even horse racing events. One of the most unique opportunities available in Delaware County is the Perkins Observatory, a research and educational facility used by Ohio Wesleyan University.
History
The Perkins Observatory was established in 1931 primarily through the foresight and financial contributions of Professor Hiram Mills Perkins of Ohio Wesleyan University. The 69-inch telescope developed for the observatory was the 3rd largest in the world at the time but was eventually moved to Arizona in 1961 where it became a part of the Lowell Observatory. Eventually, in 1999 the telescope returned to the Perkins Observatory and is now a regular part of its operations, along with another 32-inch telescope. Unfortunately, Ohio Wesleyan University stopped funding the observatory in 1998 as part of its efforts to partner with other universities to utilize more updated planetary equipment and facilities as a part of their astronomy program. As a result, the Perkins Observatory is currently raising an endowment to fund its operations, as well as raising money through ticket sales by opening its doors to the public to showcase its facility. It is still used on occasion by the faculty and students of Ohio Wesleyan University.
Public Events
The Perkins Observatory provides several different lectures and programs for the public. An initial orientation and safety talk is given at the beginning of a session to inform tourists on how to properly move about the darkened premises. Different astronomy lectures are also given on a variety of applicable topics along with tours of the observatory structure itself. Other lectures are also given, usually in conjunction with the observatory structure tour, where topics ranging from the history of the 69-inch Perkins telescope to ghost stories about Professor Hiram Mills revisiting the observatory that he helped found but never saw completed are discussed. General admission costs $10 a person, with purchases on the day of a program costing $12. Because observatories are dependent on seasonal weather factors and the astronomical position of planets and other heavenly bodies, public viewing sessions and programs are sporadic throughout the year. Typically, the observatory is open between 2-4 days a month starting at 8 pm or 9 pm depending on the time of the year.
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