Otter Creek Observatory
Encyclopedia
Otter Creek Observatory is an astronomical
observatory
, one of two units of the Otter Creek–South Harrison Observatories operated by Jefferson Community and Technical College. It is located at the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County
, Kentucky
, about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of downtown Louisville
along the Ohio River.
Otter Creek Observatory was founded as and built to be a public observatory in 1995 by the city of Louisville, which at the time owned and operated what was then known as Otter Creek Park. In 2000 the city formed a partnership with Jefferson Community and Technical College; the college has operated the observatory ever since. A few years later the Challenger Center for Space Science Education
in Radcliff, Kentucky
joined the partnership. The Center withdrew from the partnership when the park closed in 2009.
In January of 2009 Otter Creek Park closed to the public, and the observatory ceased being open to the general public. In 2010, the park was transferred to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and it reopened in May 2011 as the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. The observatory has never closed; it remains operational to this day and is used by Jefferson Community and Technical College for education and research. The college has not yet announced whether the Otter Creek Observatory will reopen to the public.
The other unit of the Otter Creek–South Harrison Observatories is in South Harrison Park in Harrison County, Indiana
, owned by the Harrison County Parks and Recreation Department. South Harrison Observatory opened in 2009, and is open to the public. In both observatories, the location and building are owned by the park in question, while most of the astronomical equipment is owned by the college.
Since 2005 the observatory has published a newsletter, The Observer.
Since 2006 the observatory has been the site of an active research and education program in historical astronomy
and history of astronomy
. This research has resulted in a number of papers published in educational and scientific journals. The observatory was also the impetus behind, and provided funds and resources for, the "Fathers of Astronomy" exhibit in 2009 at the Frazier International History Museum
, which featured original works of Copernicus and Galileo. The exhibit was a partnership between the museum, the college/observatory, and the University of Louisville
's Ekstrom Library, and was a celebration of the International Year of Astronomy
.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, one of two units of the Otter Creek–South Harrison Observatories operated by Jefferson Community and Technical College. It is located at the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County
Meade County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of downtown Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
along the Ohio River.
Otter Creek Observatory was founded as and built to be a public observatory in 1995 by the city of Louisville, which at the time owned and operated what was then known as Otter Creek Park. In 2000 the city formed a partnership with Jefferson Community and Technical College; the college has operated the observatory ever since. A few years later the Challenger Center for Space Science Education
Challenger Center for Space Science Education
' is a nonprofit educational organization with its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and an international network of Challenger Learning Centers. The organization was founded in April 1986 by the families of the astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28,...
in Radcliff, Kentucky
Radcliff, Kentucky
Radcliff is a city in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 21,961 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area....
joined the partnership. The Center withdrew from the partnership when the park closed in 2009.
In January of 2009 Otter Creek Park closed to the public, and the observatory ceased being open to the general public. In 2010, the park was transferred to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and it reopened in May 2011 as the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. The observatory has never closed; it remains operational to this day and is used by Jefferson Community and Technical College for education and research. The college has not yet announced whether the Otter Creek Observatory will reopen to the public.
The other unit of the Otter Creek–South Harrison Observatories is in South Harrison Park in Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
, owned by the Harrison County Parks and Recreation Department. South Harrison Observatory opened in 2009, and is open to the public. In both observatories, the location and building are owned by the park in question, while most of the astronomical equipment is owned by the college.
Since 2005 the observatory has published a newsletter, The Observer.
Since 2006 the observatory has been the site of an active research and education program in historical astronomy
Historical astronomy
Historical astronomy is the science of analysing historic astronomical data. The American Astronomical Society , established 1899, states that its Historical Astronomy Division "...shall exist for the purpose of advancing interest in topics relating to the historical nature of astronomy...
and history of astronomy
History of astronomy
Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, mythological, and astrological practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with public and governmental astronomy, and not...
. This research has resulted in a number of papers published in educational and scientific journals. The observatory was also the impetus behind, and provided funds and resources for, the "Fathers of Astronomy" exhibit in 2009 at the Frazier International History Museum
Frazier International History Museum
The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier...
, which featured original works of Copernicus and Galileo. The exhibit was a partnership between the museum, the college/observatory, and the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
's Ekstrom Library, and was a celebration of the International Year of Astronomy
International Year of Astronomy
The International Year of Astronomy was a year-long celebration of astronomy that took place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova in the 17th century...
.