New observatory project
Above is an artist rendition created by Jordan Spuck of the new observatory planned for construction. The new facility will be located at an improved dark-sky site in southeastern Venango County, centered between Franklin, Oil City, and Clarion . The address will be 4249 Camp Coffman Rd., Cranberry, PA 16319 (see the maps and coordinates below).
Providing sufficient funding can be raised, the new facility will include the observatory housing a 30-inch telescope, on-site restrooms, and a separate classroom facility to accommodate student and adult groups for school field trips, community presentations, and other activities.
NOTE: Please bear with us as we construct a new facility for all to enjoy! The multi-purpose building is now almost complete, both inside and out, and we hope to finish construction soon on the observatory building. The track for the roll-off roof has now been installed. Most of the site work is also in place, and new telescope equipment is on order. However, much remains to be done, especially in the way of interior finishing at the observatory building. Full build-out will very much depend on the support we can secure over the next few months. Thank you for your patience as we continue our progress toward a fully functioning observation center! (See below for a few photos.)
We are currently seeking support in the form of labor, materials, and funding for the new facility and its operation. YOU or your business can play an important role! We have a growing list of contributors to the project, and we'd love to have your name on our "Wall of Stars" when the project is complete. 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.
In the coming months, we hope to move quickly toward completion of the project. 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.
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.
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.
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 make the new observatory a reality!
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By our estimate, the coordinates of the future observatory will be 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 332, 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 332, 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 as of 10-13-15
Future observatory building, fall of 2015
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 Kopp 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.
Future wintertime light barrier: Over nine days in mid-April, ORAS members planted close to 900 evergreen seedlings around the perimeter of the observing field. The trees are a mixture of red cedar and white spruce. Thanks very much to all those who helped with the planting -- Mike Anderton, Brian Doss, Marianne Hooker, Dave Jones, Jim Kelley, John and Kelly O'Hara, and Tim Spuck. Your work is much appreciated! To the left is a picture of Dave with a few of the seedlings.
