Amateur Astronomers Inc. (AAI) Observatory
On September 23, 2000, the Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope was officially unveiled at dedication ceremonies at the Barry D. Malpas Observatory in Jenny Jump State Forest. The observatory was built entirely by AAI members and stands as a testament to what a dedicated group of amateur astronomers can accomplish together.
The Barry Malpas Observatory is a 10-foot by 10-foot structure with a roll-off roof, providing excellent access to the sky in all directions. The centerpiece is a Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope mounted on a Losmandy G11 GOTO German equatorial mount, supported by a solid concrete pier for stable, vibration-free viewing. The telescope is also accessible via remote control from any PC on the local UACNJ network, and winter observing sessions controlled from the heated UACNJ clubhouse have been conducted successfully since 2009.
AAI is one of the oldest and largest amateur astronomy clubs in the United States, having been founded in 1949. In addition to the Malpas Observatory at Jenny Jump, AAI operates the William Miller Sperry Observatory at Union County College in Cranford, NJ, which houses a member-built 10-inch f/15 refractor and a 24-inch f/11 Cassegrain reflector among the largest telescopes on the East Coast available for amateur use.
For more information about AAI, visit asterism.org.
The Barry Malpas Observatory is a 10-foot by 10-foot structure with a roll-off roof, providing excellent access to the sky in all directions. The centerpiece is a Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope mounted on a Losmandy G11 GOTO German equatorial mount, supported by a solid concrete pier for stable, vibration-free viewing. The telescope is also accessible via remote control from any PC on the local UACNJ network, and winter observing sessions controlled from the heated UACNJ clubhouse have been conducted successfully since 2009.
AAI is one of the oldest and largest amateur astronomy clubs in the United States, having been founded in 1949. In addition to the Malpas Observatory at Jenny Jump, AAI operates the William Miller Sperry Observatory at Union County College in Cranford, NJ, which houses a member-built 10-inch f/15 refractor and a 24-inch f/11 Cassegrain reflector among the largest telescopes on the East Coast available for amateur use.
For more information about AAI, visit asterism.org.
