“The KAO is an organization which actively pursues the aesthetic and intellectual enjoyment of astronomy through observing, study, and the free exchange of information … endeavoring to expand the appreciation of, and participation in, amateur astronomy, by providing observing experiences for the public”

Kansas Astronomical Observers is based out of Wichita Kansas. We schedule outreach for private and public groups. We also help folks with their telescopes that have trouble setting it up and using it. This service is free to the public.

Our club has partnered with the Lake Afton Public Observatory (LAPO). Many of the staff members are club members too. LAPO is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights. Special appointments can be made upon request. Many of our club members set up on the north pad with their telescopes and it's free to the public to observe with them. You are welcome to bring your telescope along and setup and observe with us. Entering the Observatory is a small fee. The Observatory provides many visual and hands on displays plus an observing program using their big telescope under the dome.

We participate out at Fall River with an annual event in August with an outreach program and telescope viewing. Check our calendar for dates, times, with directions to get there. The park rangers provide home made icecream for sale. The Fall River State Park does require a fee to enter the park. Here is a link to the Fall River Park if you require a RV reservation or find out more about this beautiful park.

We are also invited to the annual event in June to the Symphony In The Flint Hills. This can be found on our calendar of events as to when it has been scheduled and where it will be located. This event falls on the second weekend of the month of June. The location changes every year. The Symphony does require a fee to attend the concert. Follow this link to order your tickets or find out more about the Symphony in the Flint Hills.

Feel free to contact us to set up an outreach or telescope viewing for your group, or check our calendar of events for any public outreach or telescope viewing that may intrest you.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we have been scheduling our club meetings via Zoom. Go to the meeting date on the calendar to find the invitation to pre-register for our meetings each month. Each month is updated as needed. Unfortunately most of our scheduled events have been cancelled or postponed.

The Kansas Astronomical Observers would like to invite you to our meetings. We meet at the Great Plains Nature Center October thru April on the third Saturday of the month at 3:00 p.m. Then we meet at the Lake Afton Public Observatory May thru September on the third Saturday of the month at 7:30 p.m. We discuss the latest happenings in astronomy and frequently have programs by guest speakers during our fall/winter meetings at the GPNC. Visitors are most welcome.