Astronomical Station to reopen before solar eclipse

Observatory Park’s Nassau Astronomical Station is ready for its close-up.

The public is invited to join Geauga Park District for the reopening of this historic building, restored with its 36-inch Warner & Swasey telescope, on Aug. 19, in Montville Township before the solar eclipse Aug. 21.

Free events and activities for the whole family will include shuttles to tour the Nassau Astronomical Station and its telescope from 6 to 11:30 p.m., music and entertainment, trail rides, face painting, make-n-take craft projects, games, costumed characters, hot dog dinners and more.

Those interested can view the complete event schedule at bit.ly/gpdspecial.

Nassau Astronomical Station was built in 1957 by the Warner & Swasey Company of Cleveland; researchers at Case Western Reserve University used it for visual study of the heavens through the 1980s, according to a Park District press release.

The Park District teamed with CWRU to offer public Astronomy Nights at Nassau from 1994 to 2005, and after CWRU discontinued use of the station, it sold the facility to the Park District in 2008.

“Nassau Astronomical Station’s 36-inch Warner & Swasey telescope is one of the largest, if not the largest, public viewing scopes in the state of Ohio,” said Executive Director John Oros, in the press release. “We are excited to provide opportunities to experience astronomy and the night skies to our residents now and for many, many years to come.”

Fundraising efforts made it possible to restore the facility and telescope to their former glory in 2017, the release stated.

In addition to the restoration of the area’s largest publicly accessible researchgrade telescope and refurbishment of the equipment necessary for its operation, renovations to Nassau included the addition of museum features, redecorating in the historic living quarters, wheelchair accessibility to the upper telescope floor, and restrooms.

Today Observatory Park is an International Dark Sky Park, and future Astronomy Nights with night sky viewing are scheduled for 7 to 11 p.m. on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, 16 and 23. Daytime open houses are also on Sundays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 27 and Sept. 10 and 24.