Prairie Grass Observatory

Prairie Grass Observatory sits within a stand of native prairie grass at Camp Cullom, between the towns of Mulberry and Frankfort in west-central Indiana.

About Prairie Grass Observatory

Supported by the Wabash Valley Astronomical Society of Lafayette, Prairie Grass Observatory takes its name from the native prairie grass preserved around the site and serves as a hub for public outreach on the night sky.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is a 28-inch computerized Dobsonian reflector - one of the largest telescopes in Indiana - alongside a 16-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain with a database of more than 145,000 objects, a 12-inch computer-controlled research telescope, and 100 mm binoculars on a universal mount. The observatory is an official asteroid tracking and discovery station, and astronomers there have discovered 20 asteroids.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located at Camp Cullom, run by the Clinton County Foundation for Youth, between Mulberry and Frankfort in Indiana's farm country.

Visiting Prairie Grass Observatory

Free public open houses are held monthly from May through October, weather permitting, hosted by the Wabash Valley Astronomical Society.

See your named star from here

An observatory that has helped discover 20 asteroids has the instruments and the know-how to point at precise coordinates - including those of a star named through Star Register. Bring its right ascension and declination along to an open house. Name a star or browse the catalogue first.