page_title: Killarney Provincial Park Observatory
section_title: Kchi Waasa Debaabing (larger observatory housing 16" and 5" Telescopes)
hierarchical_section_title: Killarney Provincial Park Observatory / History of the Observatory Complex / Kchi Waasa Debaabing (larger observatory housing 16" and 5" Telescopes)
caption_attribution_description: English: Aerial view of the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex at the Stars over Killarney event (2018)
context_page_description: The Killarney Provincial Park Observatory is an astronomical observatory located at the George Lake Campground of Killarney Provincial Park.
  The Observatory is operated by Ontario Parks and houses two observatory buildings. The original facility contains a 10” telescope with solar filter, ideal for nighttime as well as daytime viewing of the Sun. The newer facility contains a 16” fully automated telescope with a 5” refractor and is ideal for research, astrophotography and public use. Both telescopes are available for Discovery programs as well as private sign-out by interested visitors.
context_section_description: After eight years of use, it became apparent that there were ways to optimize the facility and, in 2017, an upgrade initiative kicked off to provide a second observatory dome and equipment that would meet six key requirements:
  spectacular visual capability
  optimized for both wide-field and high magnification astrophotography
  high usability for both the Discovery program staff as well as self use
  increase of available space within the observatory to suit public programming
  low maintenance for Park staff (protection from moisture, bugs, pollen, etc.)
  highly resistant to accidental damage
  A decision matrix was established and vetted against real world feedback from existing users who were kind enough to donate their time and expertise, most notably: 
  Hyde Memorial Observatory (Lee Thomas and Rick Johnson),
  Z-Field Observatory (Kevin Cobble),
  Lethbridge Astronomy Society (Dwight Jones, Telescope Coordinator), and
  Paul Titus, Amateur Astronomer and former President of Roper Mountain Astronomers of Greenville, SC
  Based on the requirements and usage data available, it was decided that a closed tube telescope of large aperture plus an apochromatic refractor mounted on a permanent equatorial pier would suit all the requirements listed above. 
  In 2018, the new Observatory was opened and houses a Meade LX600-ACF 16" f/8 (ideal for planets and deep sky astrophotography) with a Meade Series 6000 130mm ED APO refractor mounted on top for lower magnification / wide field use. The entire assembly sits on a cast steel Permanent Equatorial Pier to ensure overall stability and consistency of the equipment. This dome utilizes a SkyShed GPOD with a two-door observatory structure and features a "slide-off" roof assembly to provide more headroom. The observatory sits upon a deck with two ramps (to ease the movement of people) donated by the Friends of Killarney Park.
caption: Aerial view of the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex at the Stars over Killarney event (2018).  Photo: Colin Durocher
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