upDATED STATUS
04/27/2025
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- The next scheduled public program will be May 17, 2025 at 8:30 pm and will be live at the EIOLC. 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.
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The next monthly business meeting will be on June 5th starting at 7:00 pm. This meeting will be held at the EIOLC and on Zoom for the convenience of those unable to travel to the observatory. Meeting details, including a link to the online meeting, will be in the June 2025 issue of The Prime Focus sent to members before the end of the month.
On April 8th, there was a partial Solar Eclipse visible in Iowa which was viewed from the observatory by 350 people based on a count from an airial picture plus many inside buildings, for an estimated total of 400. Thank you to all member volunteers who assisted and to all visitors for a fun event. The May issue of the award winning The Prime Focus newsletter includes many stories and pictures.
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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 December 8, 2024: 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 1307 indexed items in the books and media, there are now over 2500 magazine issues, and we have more than 100 recorded presentations given at CAA Free Public nights, some dating back to 2015.
- Updated December 8, 2024: 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 1307 indexed items in the books and media, there are now over 2500 magazine issues, and we have more than 100 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 2025 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 * Newly elected for 2024
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