upDATED STATUS
12/31/2025
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- The next scheduled public program will be January 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm and will be virtual using Zoom ONLY. The Public Events Page will have the program information and also a link to the virtual presentation as soon as the information is available. The information will also be posted on the CAA Facebook Page. All public events for 2026 are now listed on that tab.
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The last year's worth of previous public programs is shown in reverse order (most recent first) on the Public Events tab following the list of events for 2026. All of them have the original program and speaker information and have a link to the Zoom recording. If you have not checked that out you should. We will try to always have the link to the recording added by the next day so if you have to miss one of the live events you can catch up right away.
The next monthly business meeting will be on January 8, 2026 starting at 7:00 pm (note one week delay of meeting date due to January 1st being on the first Thursday of the month.) This meeting will be held only on Zoom to allow attendance without potential travel problems to the observatory. Meeting details, including a link to the online meeting, will be in the January 2026 issue of The Prime Focus sent to members before the end of the month.
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The observatory is only open for scheduled Public Events (see navigation link at right) and for reserved events. If you would like to make arrangements for a group visit then look at the page on the right labeled "Request for Services" to find out how.
- Updated July 12, 2025: You can download the list of books and media, the list of magazines and publications, and the list of Public Night Presentations available in the associaton's library on the "Documents" page. There are now 1433 indexed items in the books and media, there are now over 3400 magazine issues, and we have more than 120 recorded presentations given at CAA Free Public nights, some dating back to 2015.
- Updated July 12, 2025: You can download the list of books and media, the list of magazines and publications, and the list of Public Night Presentations available in the associaton's library on the "Documents" page. There are now 1433 indexed items in the books and media, there are now over 3400 magazine issues, and we have more than 120 recorded presentations given at CAA Free Public nights, some dating back to 2015.
- Please send questions to: "This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.".
- Download a Flyer with all of the 2026 Event dates and times (171 kB pdf) or business card size schedule (113 kB pdf).
- Download a map (276 kB pdf) to Pal-Dows Preserve.
Come Explore Your Universe!
Members of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers (CAA) host public and private group events at the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center. The EIOLC is located on the grounds of Palisades-Dows Preserve, between Mount Vernon and Ely, Iowa.
There is a new link in the navigation pane at the right labeled "EIOLC Roof Cameras" that has a view of the observatory grounds. The camera is called Pal-Dows Skies and it shows a good size area of the southeast sky as well as the area around the observatory buildings and domes. Check the sky before you go if you would like, or see if others are out observing. There are also links for accessing two other camera systems which are on the roof of the EIOLC: the All Sky 7 meteor detection and tracking system and an all sky imaging system called MANGO that monitors disturbances in the ionosphere.
As well as being a member society of the Astronomical League, the CAA is a member of NASA's Night Sky Network, a nationwide coalition of amateur astronomy societies committed to sharing their time, their telescopes, and their enthusiasm for astronomy with their local communities. The CAA hosts public viewing nights during the year and information about those public observing nights can be found on the Events page of the website.
The Society serves its members, the public, local school districts, youth groups, as well as college and university classes. We have also hosted state and regional conventions in Cedar Rapids. Since its founding, the Society's membership has grown from 12 members to over 100. Our members come from all walks of life and with all levels of interest in astronomy.
The Cedar Amateur Astronomers, Inc. was founded on September 29, 1979, and incorporated in 1980. Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the CAA is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center at Palisades-Dows Preserve is jointly operated by the Cedar Amateur Astronomers and the Linn County Conservation Board.
INQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TOEmail Voicemail Postal Address Society Officers
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