New observatory project
Our new facility is located at an improved dark-sky site in southeastern Venango County, centered between Franklin, Oil City, and Clarion. The address is 4249 Camp Coffman Rd., Cranberry, PA 16319 (see the maps and coordinates below).
The 25-acre site includes a large open field surrounding the Bruce M. Bedow Observatory, where we have several top-of-the-line telescopes. The multi-purpose building contains an on-site restroom and a shower room, plus a classroom to accommodate student and adult groups for school field trips, community presentations, and other activities. We look forward to opening the facility for learners of all ages to come and enjoy the beauty of the night sky, one of the major natural resources and assets of the Venango, Clarion, and Forest County region.
ORAS has been fortunate to receive many significant contributions to our building project. Below is a list of those who have donated money, stock, and in-kind contributions as of June 21, 2016.
Unless otherwise requested, all contributors will be recognized on the permanent "Wall of Stars" at the new facility. The Wall of Stars will be similar to the HR diagram image located at http://uofgts.com/Astro/starclass/HRdiag-Big.jpg. Each star will be named after a contributor, and the individuals and businesses making the largest contributions will of course be recognized with the largest stars.
We plan on installing some additional amenities at the site, such as fencing, a line of trees to serve as a light barrier in winter, and power pedestals in the observing field. The timing of these improvements will depend on donations from our supporters.
Please consider making a contribution today, by clicking on the "donate" button above, or by sending a check made out to ORAS to our mailing address, P. O. Box 1535, Oil City, PA 16301. If you are interested in helping out by contributing labor, resources, or other assets to the project, please contact Tim Spuck at tspuck@hotmail.com or 814-354-6515. ORAS is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and all contributions are tax deductible.
CONTRIBUTORS TO DATE -- CASH, STOCK, MATERIALS, AND SERVICES
Blue or red super giant level ($5,000 or more in value)
Rod Bedow
Elizabeth S. Black Charitable Trust (PNC Bank, trustee)
Clint Brown Sons
David Jones
Thomas Keating Trust
John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne Rees Charitable Foundation
Tim and Karen Spuck
Swartfager Welding, Inc.
Third Millenium Architects/David Strickland
County of Venango
Red giant level ($2,500-4,999 in value)
Marianne Hooker
Blue star level ($1,000-2,499 in value)
In honor of Joseph and Helen Guzik
Butch and Joanne Kapp
RAM Water Well Services
Reeves Plumbing and Heating
In memory of Charles Spuck
In memory of Larry Stack
Flaccus and Beth Stifel
In honor of Nicholas and Mary Tramdack
Green star level ($500-999 in value)
In memory of Jim Donze
J. J. Kennedy, Inc.
In memory of Dave Kiser, Sr.
Yellow star level ($100-499 in value)
Mike Anderton
Barr's Insurance
Steve and Debbie Behringer
Ray and Jan Beichner
Tyler and Leah Chambers
Brian Doss
Electralloy
Jim Garasich
The Heller family
Kiski Area Astronomy Club
Robert Kalan
Randal and Mary Leeson
Larry McHenry
Kate Meredith
Overhead Door Company
Rolling Hills Metal
Slippery Rock Hardware
Snyder Electric
Tonell’s Jewelry
Rebecca Valentine
Click on the button at the top of the page, and help us perfect the new observatory!
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By our estimate, the coordinates of the future observatory are 41.321903 N and -79.585394 W. |
Directions to the site:
From the west:
Starting from the intersection with Route 257, near the Cranberry Mall, follow Rte. 322 for about 8.7 miles after you pass Route 257. At the corner of Route 338, shortly after Hirsch's Meats, turn left onto Camp Coffman Road. At one point this road makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles from Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more mile, passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the east:
From the post office on Route 208 in Shippenville, follow Rte. 322 for 6.4 miles. At the corner of Route 338, turn right onto Camp Coffman Road. At one point this road makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles from Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more miles passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the southwest:
Take Exit 45 from Route 80 onto Route 478. Turn left, go under Route 80, and then turn right onto Route 38 after about .2 miles. Follow Route 38 for about 10 miles, until it intersects with Route 322. Go right on Route 322 for 3.5 miles. At the corner of Route 338, shortly after Hirsch's Meats, turn left onto Camp Coffman Road. At one point this road makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles from Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more mile, passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the southeast:
Take Exit 53 from Route 80. Turn left onto State Route 3007, and go about .7 mile to Route 338. Go right on Route 338, continuing straight through the town of Knox. Route 338 will end at Route 322, about 8.3 miles from Route 80. Keep going straight at this intersection. The road will now be called Camp Coffman Road. At one point it makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles after Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more mile, passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the north:
There are no large or well-marked roads leading directly to the site from the north. If coming from Oil City, take Route 257 south until you reach Route 322, and then follow the directions above for "from the west." If coming from Fryburg, take Route 208 south to Shippenville, and then follow the directions above for "from the east."
Starting from the intersection with Route 257, near the Cranberry Mall, follow Rte. 322 for about 8.7 miles after you pass Route 257. At the corner of Route 338, shortly after Hirsch's Meats, turn left onto Camp Coffman Road. At one point this road makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles from Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more mile, passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the east:
From the post office on Route 208 in Shippenville, follow Rte. 322 for 6.4 miles. At the corner of Route 338, turn right onto Camp Coffman Road. At one point this road makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles from Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more miles passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the southwest:
Take Exit 45 from Route 80 onto Route 478. Turn left, go under Route 80, and then turn right onto Route 38 after about .2 miles. Follow Route 38 for about 10 miles, until it intersects with Route 322. Go right on Route 322 for 3.5 miles. At the corner of Route 338, shortly after Hirsch's Meats, turn left onto Camp Coffman Road. At one point this road makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles from Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more mile, passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the southeast:
Take Exit 53 from Route 80. Turn left onto State Route 3007, and go about .7 mile to Route 338. Go right on Route 338, continuing straight through the town of Knox. Route 338 will end at Route 322, about 8.3 miles from Route 80. Keep going straight at this intersection. The road will now be called Camp Coffman Road. At one point it makes a sharp turn to the left. About 3 miles after Rte. 322, the road appears to end in a T. Turn right on the continuation of Camp Coffman Road, and follow it for about 1 more mile, passing the entrance to Camp Coffman on the right. The entrance to the observatory site will be about .3 miles further, on the left.
From the north:
There are no large or well-marked roads leading directly to the site from the north. If coming from Oil City, take Route 257 south until you reach Route 322, and then follow the directions above for "from the west." If coming from Fryburg, take Route 208 south to Shippenville, and then follow the directions above for "from the east."
Bird's eye view of the observatory site, August 2016. Multipurpose building at the far left. Photo courtesy of Steve Behringer.
Progress of construction:
Shell of multipurpose building, as of 8-22-15
Multipurpose building, as of 9-30-15
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Multipurpose building, as of 11-25-15
Multipurpose building interior, 8-1-16
Multipurpose building with cement apron, 9-16
Future observatory building, fall of 2015
Future observatory as of 10-13-15
Future observatory as of 11-25-15
Delivery of the track for the roll-off roof.
Getting ready to unload the pieces of track.
Butch Kapp moving a piece of track.
Exterior track pieces in position on the piers.
Interior portion of the roof track, with Dave Jones.
Exterior part of the roof track, viewed from inside the observatory.
Observatory with roll-off roof in the open position.