Because the night, as Springsteen wrote, belongs to lovers. A funny thing about summer nights: Surprisingly few people seem to fully enjoy the “night” part.
Oh, sure. People may love the mystery and drama inherent in the darkness, but how often do they actually get beyond the city lights, find a true country dark sky and gaze up at the majesty of the night?
You can do it every week at Powell Observatory. Each Saturday, from May through October, Powell hosts a free public gathering for stargazers of every stripe.
The observatory, run by the Astronomical Society of Kansas City, sits about 25 miles south of KC, just outside Louisburg, KS. Built in 1985, Powell features three different telescopes, including a Newtonian reflector with a 30-inch diameter mirror and computerized control —one of the largest in the region.
David Young, the observatory director for the ASKC, runs the place. He says that the weekly public events start around sundown.
“We put a camera on the main telescope and do a slide presentation outside on a screen,” he says. “After the presentation, people can go into the building and use the telescope inside.”
It’s a festive thing. Families come. They bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets. They also bring stargazing gear of their own. Folks new to astronomy are especially encouraged. “If you have a telescope, we’ll show you how to set up and use it,” Young says, but there’s also a loaner program for club members who don’t have a scope of their own.
But the big draw, of course, is the 30-inch computer-controlled telescope inside the main dome.
There’s even an option for those who want a more private experience—rent the place. Yep. For a mere $100, plus $5 per person, you can have the whole observatory to yourself.
“You don’t have to share the telescope with 200 other people,” Young says.
In other words, instead of waiting in line to look at one thing, you can see an array of celestial bodies at your leisure.
There’s a real romance to that, Young says. It’s a particularly popular option for couples.
“We have more date nights than we do scout groups,” he says.
So, yes. Enjoy those hot summer nights in the city. But maybe spend a Saturday or two doing something different. Take that special someone down to Louisburg and look up at the heavens. You might just find your love is written in the stars.
