About Rainwater Observatory

The Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is an educational ministry of French Camp Academy.

 

It was an outgrowth of the desire to appreciate that “the Heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).

 

Since its beginning in 1985, it has grown in a remarkable way and served thousands of people from around the world.

Gifted Becomes Gilded

In the summer of 1985, a 16’ reflector telescope was offered to the Jackson Astronomical Association in Jackson, Mississippi. At the time, they did not have the room or money for it. So, a member of the Association asked Mr. Stuart Irby, Jr., French Camp Academy’s Board Chairman, if the school would be interested in it. Jim Hill, an FCA teacher, was an amateur astronomer and became excited about the project. Hill, assisted by teachers Terry Beutin and Terry Roberts, students Ed Hill and Jerry Thompson and alumnus Steve Garcia, armed themselves with saws and hammers and caravanned to claim the prize. In addition to the telescope, they brought back a 10’ x 10’ building with a roll-off roof, along with many books and accessories.

The building was placed atop of an open ridge on French Camp Academy’s Rainwater farm property about a half mile east of the main campus on Highway 413. Far from ambient city lights, the site was an excellent place for an observatory. Bill Clark, owner of Observadome Laboratories in Jackson, Mississippi offered a used 10’ dome if the school could restore it. Hundreds of staff and student labor hours later, a shiny dome sat on the hill and was dedicated to the Lord’s use on Easter morning at sunrise.

Mississippi's Largest Observatory

The Observatory, the largest in the state, is spread out on our hilltop site and has over 25 telescopes, plus other optical instruments.

 

Our largest telescopes are a 32-inch Tectron with a Servocat and ArgoNavas automation system and a powerful, research grade, fully automated 25-inch Ritchey-Chretien Sangre telescope and control room with a long focal length, high resolution 6-inch Astrophysics refractor riding piggyback.

 

We also have two 20-inch Dobsonian telescopes that yield spectacular heavenly views.

More Telescopes for Exploring:

  • Meade DS-16 Newtonian Reflector
  • Meade 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain
  • 2 Celestron C-14 Schmidt-Cassegrains
  • 12.5-inch Ritchey-Cretien Cassegrain
  • 2- Meade 12-inch LX-200 Schmidt-Cassegrains
  • 12-inch fork-mounted Newtonian Reflector
  • 2 C-11 Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrains
  • 2 Celestron C-8 Schmidt-Cassegrains
  • 8" Orion Skyquest Dobsonian Reflector
  • 8-inch Celestron Newtonian Reflector
  • 10-inch Cave Astrola Cassegrain
  • 10-inch Parks Reflector
  • 5-inch Parks Reflector
  • 6-inch Starfire AstroPhysics Refractor
  • Explore Scientific 127mm APO Triplet Refractor
  • Orion 120mm Refractor
  • 50, 70 and 80mm Binoculars
  • Daystar Solar filter on an 80mm Williams Doublet Refractor
  • 6-inch Edmund Scientific Reflector
  • Criterion Dynascope RV-6 Reflector 
  • 5-inch A. Jaegers Short Focus Refractor

 

...and a number of other powerful scopes!

RAINWATER, ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING DARK POCKETS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

 

Our unique facility is located in one of the last remaining dark pockets left in the southeastern United States. We can offer a window into the splendor of the heavens that few around the country can offer. We provide day and nighttime astronomy related programming designed for a variety of different groups and organizations including, but not limited to, universities, schools, colleges, science and nature centers, senior adult and youth groups, international groups, scouts, civic groups, homeschools churches and other faith based organizations.

PLANETARIUM

We have an “Observa-dome" Planetarium with a six-meter dome and Spitz A-2 projector. It can seat as many as 50 people and is used primarily to teach stellar and planetary motion, constellations and mythology during the daytime and in the event of evening inclement weather.

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Observatory Facilities

Observatory Facilities

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