Lake Afton Public Observatory

Lake Afton Public Observatory, in a rural setting southwest of Wichita on the north side of Lake Afton, was established in 1979 through a partnership of Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita, and Wichita State University’s Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education. Centered on a 16-inch Ritchey–Chrétien telescope with a 6-inch refractor, it also offers astronomy exhibits and an outdoor observing area for local astronomers. After Wichita State announced its closure in 2015 because of cost, local astronomers, city officials, and the university reached an agreement that reopened it in 2016. It remains a public science and education site with year-round weekend programs and weekday school and private programs.

Kansas · United States