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JETS observatory is owned and operated by JETS, a student science club of Freeport High School. JETS was established as a club for high school students to provide information regarding various careers in fields of science. The club provides a source of scientific recreation for high school students and the community of Freeport.
The Observatory is open free to the public on clear Wednesday evenings from May through September.
JETS history timeline:
- 1961 - JETS club at FHS was founded
- 1963 - JETS started a 4 year project to grind mirror for future 12.5” telescope.
- 1965: JETS Club became a non-profit organization and today remains the oldest active JETS club in the nation.
- 1967 - Park Hills observatory finished and the telescope complete.
- 1969 - First Astronomy class.
- 1981 - JETS rated as BEST CLUB in the nation.
- 1990 - Donation from the A.L. Ritchie trust fund of a Celestron 8” Schmidt Cassegrain telescope.
- 1999 - JETS advisor Mr. Doug Firebaugh retires and is repalced by Jerry Heinrich.
- 2000 - Jim Dole elected by JETS board to direct the observatory activities. The same year JETS hosted its first Astronomy Day event.
- 2001 - JETS was awarded the “Most for its Size” for Astronomy Day from Sky & Telescope magazine and the Astronomical League.
- 2002 - Substantial donations to the club were used to purchase new equipment, including:
- Starlight Express MX7C CCD camera
- Meade 5” LXD refractor
- Computer
- 2003 - Bill Krahe appointed JETS club advisor.
- Over 500 people visit the observatory to view the close apparition of Mars.
- 2004 – Astronomy Day open house (May, 8th from 10am – 4pm). Solar observation was conducted in both white-light and hydrogen-alpha.
- 2005 The Tricounty Astronomers and JETS was awarded the “Most for its Size” for Astronomy Day activities and attendance from Sky & Telescope magazine and the Astronomical League.
- 2005 - 14” Meade LX200 GPS UHTC telescope with accessories donated to the observatory by Skywatch and Down to Earth Astronomy author Jarrett DuBois.
JETS observing highlights:
Over the years the JETS observatory has provided information and viewing of the night sky for thousands of people in our community both public and private. The JETS observatory has hosted viewing for many celestial events including:
- 1970 - Comet Bennett
- 1970 - Partial solar eclipse
- 1975 – Lunar Eclipse
- 1976 – Viewed Comet West
- 1979 – Partial solar eclipse
- 1986 - Observed the return appearance of Haley’s Comet.
- 1997 - Comet Hale-Bopp
- 2003 – MARS! MARS! MARS! For this event, in addition to normal hours, the observatory was open a couple of extra nights at the time of Mars’ closest approach.
- 2004 – Saturn was the object of interest in January and the JETS Observatory was open to the public Wednesday evenings from May through September.
- 2005 - Olga Carlile Mars Party, Oct. 29
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