Racine Wisconisn is, by most measurment, a fairly small town. About 90K people. Which makes it all the more suprising to discover the very impressive Racine Astronomical Society.

The society was established back in 1956 and boasts not one, but two domed observatories.  The observatory's main instrument is a custom designed 16-inch Newtonian-Cassegrain reflecting telescope. The mirror was figured at Kitt Peak Observatory. The telescope was designed and built by club members and local industries. The telescope is mounted on a custom German equatorial mount. Attached to the main telescope is a 6-inch refractor which is used as a guide scope. A 5-inch astrograph refractor can also be attached to the telescope.

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The entrace and club room for the main observatory is filled with a large number of photos taken by the club members. Click the photo below examine the entrace in high resolution, full screen three sixty detail.

The club has added a second dome which contains a 14-inch telescope. The Racine Astronomical Society continues its fine tradition of promoting interest in astronomy by holding public nights, which are open to anyone with an interest in astronomy. At these events, visitors are able to view astronomical objects through the club's telescopes and member's telescopes.

The Racine Astronomical Society is located on 3.5 acres, away from the city lights, in Union Grove, Wisconsin.

The society is very active in promoting astronomy in the community and sponsers many public viewing nights. Visit the Racine Astronomical Society for details.