点评:We've wanted to go for years but we've been here on the wrong days and then COVID. The facility is beautiful and more than we expected. Mike welcomed us into the observatory with the group of other families.
The night started off with some videos on space and astronomy. They are an educational way to kill time while you wait for it to get really dark. After the videos, he gave us a presentation using the star wall they have in the observatory. I enjoy astronomy and learned a lot. We brought our kids and they learned a lot too.
Then it was up to the observatory to get to use the 16" telescope. You can get 14 people up there but it is tight. Be sure to dress like you will be outside for an hour. There are blankets up there if you need them. Mike did a great job explaining and truly has a passion for the stars. He was able to speak on a level that could be understood by kids and astronomy fans alike. The views were phenomenal. We saw several planets, a globular cluster of stars, a nebula, and all sorts of awesome things. The skies were so clear we could see satellites speed by. Just an awesome experience.
The observatory is a memorial to Mike's adult children who died in an accident. He took their insurance and built this observatory. It is obvious that it is a work of love.
Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. They use the donations for scholarships for Estes Park Students to go to college. Definitely book in advance and have a great time.
翻译:多年来我们一直想去,但我们在错误的日子来到这里,然后是 COVID。该设施很漂亮,超出了我们的预期。迈克欢迎我们和其他家庭一起进入天文台。
晚上以一些关于太空和天文学的视频开始。它们是一种教育方式,可以在您等待天黑时消磨时间。视频结束后,他用天文台的星墙给我们做了一个演示。我喜欢天文学并学到了很多东西。我们带了我们的孩子,他们也学到了很多东西。
然后由天文台决定使用 16" 望远镜。你可以在那里容纳 14 个人,但它很紧。一定要穿得像你将在外面呆一个小时一样。如果你需要的话,那里有毯子. Mike 解释得很好,真的对星星充满热情。他能够以孩子和天文爱好者都能理解的水平说话。观点是惊人的。我们看到了几颗行星,一个球状星团、星云和各种令人敬畏的事物。天空如此晴朗,我们可以看到卫星飞速掠过。真是太棒了。体验。
天文台是为了纪念迈克在事故中丧生的成年子女。他接受了他们的保险并建造了这个天文台。很明显,这是一部爱的作品。
免费入场,但很乐意接受捐款。他们将捐款用作埃斯蒂斯公园学生上大学的奖学金。一定要提前预订,玩得开心。