Wheel ruts, a reminder of an old wagon train, lead the way from the highway to the site . A view of the rust-colored buttes can be seen off to the east, and clumps of grass and sagebrush dot the prairie . The observatory will also be used for community outreach and to provide complementary instrumentation and observation for projects being done at the 2 . 3 meter Wyoming Infrared Observatory . UW researchers can respond to transient phenomena like supernovae or new comets faster than observatories like Keck and the national Observatories . UW's observatory was the only one able to respond within a day .
Eruptions are frequent events best recorded by a flexible schedule and quick responses .
In the case of Io, the University of Wyoming was able to make follow-up observations for days with its telescopes . The Red Buttes Observatory is currently outfitted to do astrophotography and scientific quality observations . The Red Buttes Observatory provides an excellent resource for all individuals interested in astronomy . Tours of the facility and astronomy in general are commonly provided from late Spring through Autumn . For more information please contact the department .