The members of the Central Texas Astronomical
Society (CTAS) hope you enjoy exploring our website.
CTAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established under the
Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. It has about 200 members located
throughout Central Texas, including Waco, Clifton, Belton and
Temple.
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Our mission is to support education and research, and promote public
interest in astronomy. CTAS members, such as John McAnally,
have conducted research on various aspects of Jupiter. Paul
Derrick writes a syndicated column on astronomy that appears in newspapers
throughout Texas. Paul also conducts wonderful and informative tours of
the night sky at CTAS stargazing parties. CTAS members offered
an Introductory Course in Astronomy for the Beginning Amateur
Astronomer at the Bosque Conservatory in Clifton, Texas, and have
played an important role in the astronomy course at Temple High
School.
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Recently CTAS embarked on a major project. We are building an
observatory that will have a 24" research grade robotic telescope.
Our goal is to have an observatory that will be a focal point for
astronomical education in Central Texas. When it is fully
operational, about 40% of the time on the telescope will be
allocated for use by students in Region XII. This project will
use the internet to bring astronomy into the classroom, making it
possible for students and teachers in Central Texas to discover the
wonders of the skies. The balance of the telescope time will
be for researchers who will pay for access to the telescope and for
CTAS member use.
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While the internet aspect of this project is a powerful resource,
CTAS members also realize that it is wonderful to observe the skies
"the old-fashioned way" by looking through a telescope. We
will have an observing field at the observatory site for stargazing
parties and use of the 24" telescope.
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The Paul J. Meyer Observatory at the Charles and Dorothy Turner
Research Station is well on its way to completion. The
telescope is scheduled for delivery in October of 2004.
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The actual observatory is just one aspect of this project.
CTAS also plans to construct a roll off roof facility that will
house smaller telescopes for use in teaching teachers in Region XII
how to teach astronomy.
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We have had wonderful support from various people who are making
this project a reality. We are most appreciative of their
faith in CTAS. There are aspects of this project for which we
need financial support. We need to improve roads on the site. We
need restroom facilities, including a septic system. We have
other operational expenses, some of which will be ongoing, such as security, staff, maintenance
and upkeep.
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Please help us with a donation. We have the following donor
recognition levels:
| 6th Magnitude Star |
4th Magnitude Star |
2nd Magnitude Star |
| $100 to $199 |
$500 to $999 |
$5,000 to $9,999 |
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| 5th Magnitude Star |
3rd Magnitude Star |
1st Magnitude Star |
| $200 to $499 |
$1,000 to $4,999 |
$10,000 and up |
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Make your tax deductible donation or contact us about pledge payment
options today. Send your contribution to CTAS, 8301 Bosque Blvd.,
Waco, Texas 76712.
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Contact CTAS if you want to know more about our project. We
thank you for visiting our website and hope to see you at one of our
EVENTS.
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