Astronomy Education Center
Our Observatories
Together, and with some other added features, the two observatories form our Astronomy Education Center; our gathering place for looking upward and exploring the Universe!
1973
Riley Observatory built by members
16″
Member-built telescope under the dome
12.5″
Live video telescope in the DVO
Free
Public Nights all year ’round
The Dome · Eyepiece Viewing
Glen D. Riley Observatory
We built our Glen D. Riley Observatory back in 1973, and today, it still serves to give our members and guests spectacular views of celestial objects.
The Glen D. Riley Observatory (GDRO) houses our NAA-designed and -built 16” Newtonian telescope. It also features a warm room with educational exhibits.
Today
| Telescope | 16″ (406 mm) Newtonian reflector |
| Primary Mirror | f/3.5, ground by member John Abrahamian |
| Secondary Mirror | 4″ minor axis |
| Coma Corrector | TeleVue Paracorr |
| Mount | Losmandy Titan, driven from SkySafari on a tablet |
| Magnification | 68× to 273×, by changing eyepieces |
| Building | Rotating dome with a shutter; a heated front room with exhibits and a monitor showing the DVO’s live view |
The Riley Observatory Through the Years
1973
The First Observatory
A small cylindrical building under an old silo top, built by students from donated and scrounged materials.
1976
Our Own Telescope
Members replace a loaner telescope with a 10″ reflector they built, and dedicate the observatory to the memory of Glen D. Riley.
1991
A Larger Building
Construction nearby forces a rebuild. The dome moves onto a new, larger building, rededicated October 26.
2006
Up the Hill
Moved beside the DVO and refurbished. Exhibits and a monitor for the DVO’s live view go into its front room in 2007.
2013
The 16″ Telescope
Members build the 16″ Newtonian that replaces the 10″ after 37 years of service.
Roll-Off Roof · Live Video
DuPage Valley Observatory
It supplements the Riley Observatory’s eyepiece-view looks at the heavens with a live video imaging system that can almost miraculously pull faint objects out of the bright Northern Illinois skies and display them on screen.
The video cameras on our 6″ and 12.5″ astrograph telescopes can capture fainter light than the eye can, and help us cut through the light pollution of our suburban skies.
| Main Telescope | 12.5″ reflector, its mirror refigured by member John Abrahamian |
| Second Telescope | 6″ astrograph |
| Cameras | Digital color imaging since 2022, replacing the analog video cameras used for almost 15 years |
| Screens | The DVO viewing room, the Riley Observatory’s exhibit room, and the DVO’s south exterior wall |
| Building | Roll-off roof and a fold-down south wall; a climate-controlled front room that houses the club library |
Built by Members
From a Silo Dome to Two Observatories
1973
Club members build the first Glen D. Riley Observatory, mostly from donated and scrounged materials, including a silo dome.
2006
The Riley Observatory moves up the hill to the Astronomy Education Center site, beside the new DuPage Valley Observatory.
2007
The completed Astronomy Education Center is dedicated on October 20.
2017
The Susan Carhart Observing Platform opens beside the observatories.
2022
The DVO’s analog TV cameras, in use for almost 15 years, are replaced with digital imaging.
2025
The Naperville City Council approves a 20-year renewal of the land use license for the Astronomy Education Center.
Visit
Public Nights
We host free Public Nights at our Astronomy Education Center all year ‘round.
When
Start and gate times for every night are listed on our Calendar. Public Nights usually end at 10 pm.
Where
Astronomy Education Center
3712 Plainfield Naperville Rd
Naperville, IL 60564
On the grounds of the Springbrook Water Reclamation Center.
For Members
Observatory Training
Members can train on the operation of either club observatory, and earn the ability to use them independently, on any night that the club doesn’t have an activity scheduled there.
Members may become a “keyholder” of either observatory by attending instructional orientation sessions and then passing a test.