Eagle eye observatory

Until further notice, EEO is available for PRIVATE viewing only.
You may call or sign-up at guest services and private bookings are booked Wednesday through Sunday. For our overnight guests, the fee is $75 for a
50-minute private viewing with our astronomer for up to 8 persons from the same family or household. Advance reservations are required.

ABOUT THE OBSERVATORY

The observatory is a sliding-roof design with two independently retractable roof sections.  Each roof section may be moved to create a variable size, side-viewing slit, or both sections may be moved to open the entire structure to the sky. Eagle Eye Observatory provides modern telescopes with computer enhanced imaging and astronomical instruments. 

Telescopes include:

  • 14” clear aperture Celestron 1400HD f/11 reflector with Edge Technology, fully automated on an equatorial mount with Go-To targeting;
  • 12” aperture Meade Schmidt Cassegrain f/10 Reflector on an Alt/Az fork mount with Go-To Technology;
  • 11” Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain f/10 converted to f/2 via HyperStar lens with Mallincam Xterminator video camera.
  • Orion ED100 100mm Apochromatic Refractor Telescope.
  • Coronado Solarmax 90mm Double Stack dedicated Solar Telescope.

The observatory is staffed by qualified astronomers and is regularly open to park visitors during published afternoons, evenings, and special events, weather permitting.  When the weather does not permit telescope viewing, EEO provides programs via a large screen television with planetarium software, videos and comprehensive interactive Q/A sessions.

message from our astronomer

Seasonal change is normal as you look at the night sky. Each month while the Earth is orbiting the Sun, the constellations appear to move westward about fifteen degrees each month. This means the wonders of the winter sky are gradually replaced by spring and then summer constellations. In early June Pollux and Castor, the Gemini Twins are low in the western sky during twilight and disappear by Dusk. This is the last of the winter observations and gives rise to the summer constellations. 
 
While Gemini is lost in the West, Scorpius with its bright star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) is rising in the southeast, soon to be followed by Sagittarius. Thus begins the march of the summer constellations across the sky. Sagittarius has many wonderful telescopic objects to see through The Eagle Eye Telescopes. The Lagoon Nebula (M8), the Trifid Nebula (M20), Globular Cluster (M22) are a few of the objects visible in our telescopes.
 
Farther north in the eastern sky is the Hercules constellation who’s bright stars appear like a Butterfly. The Hercules Cluster (M13) a bright globular is visible with its nearly 300,000 stars at a distance of 23 thousand light years from Earth. As the night progresses more of the summer constellations begin to appear rising  along the eastern horizon. The star Vega (Alpha Lyrae) is the brightest star in the eastern sky and is the fifth brightest star as seen from Earth. Close to Vega in Lyra is the Ring Nebula (M57) which is a star similar to Vega that ended its life.
 
Vega (Alpha Lyrea) along with Deneb (Alpha Sygni) and Altair (Alpha Aquilae) are the three bright stars that make up the Summer Triangle. This triangle marches across the sky westward all summer long and each constellation has many objects to view through the telescopes.
 
During these summer months, most deep space objects (DSO’s) are best seen under dark sky conditions (Moon below the horizon). Some are difficult, if not impossible to see when the Moon is bright. Although we can get a glimpse of some by using a scope with a Video Camera set-up. Come check it out.
 
Throughout the summer when the Moon is bright you might see four or five of the bright planets at various times as they make their way across the sky. So come to Canyon of the Eagles at the Eagle Eye Observatory and enjoy the summer sky and all of its wonders.

OBSERVATORY PROGRAMS

twilight program

Twilight Program ~ begins at sunset
There is no telescope viewing during the Twilight Program. This program consists of an educational video and images of the night sky, as well as special target discussions on what you will see at the Dark Sky Program.

dark sky program

Begins an hour after the start of the Twilight Program
Escape to the stars with the help of Eagle Eye’s high-tech telescopes and knowledgeable astronomer. Our telescopes offer research quality views of the moon, distant stars, and deep sky objects, while also offering a vibrant, naked-eye look on the dark, night sky. Enjoy night sky constellation tours and views of celestial objects. Fun for the whole family.

next solar eclipse

April 8, 2024 is the next solar eclipse!

We are very lucky that Lake Buchanan falls within the central path of this eclipse. This means guests will be able to see the full solar eclipse from Canyon of the Eagles!  The Resort will start taking reservations for this spectacular event January 1, 2023.