Astronomy education began in the Park in 1985 as part of outreach programs provided by Bruce Waters on behalf of the McLaughlin Planetarium.
Astronomy education continues to this day and has included Western as well as Indigenous (Anishinaabek) constellation learning, comet making workshops and music as a way to bring the mysteries of the stars to the visitors of Killarney Provincial Park.
In 2010, to celebrate 25 consecutive years of astronomy education provided by Bruce Waters, it was decided to establish a permanent facility (observatory building and telescope system) that could meet the following requirements.
After eight years of use, it became apparent that there were ways to optimize the facility and, in 2017, an upgrade initiative kicked off to provide a second observatory dome and equipment that would meet six key requirements: A decision matrix was established and vetted against real world feedback from existing users who were kind enough to donate their time and expertise, most notably:
The entire assembly sits on a cast steel Permanent Equatorial Pier to ensure overall stability and consistency of the equipment.
This dome utilizes a SkyShed GPOD with a two-door observatory structure and features a "slide-off" roof assembly to provide more headroom.
Attendees celebrating the opening included astronomers in residence, park Interpreters from the Discovery team and representation from Science North's Space Place.
In keeping with this special designation, significant attention has been spent to ensure that lighting controls fall within the best practices of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
On February 28, 2018, Killarney Provincial Park joined the list of prestigious locations designated as a Dark-Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
In keeping with the requirements of the Dark-Sky Preserve designation, the Park provides education on proper lighting use and controls as part of its regular programming.
The light gathering ability of a 16" telescope coupled with Meade's "Advanced Coma-Free" design in a Dark-Sky Preserve provides exceptional astrophotographic capability.
[7] However, with the careful placement of the permanent equatorial pier inside the southernmost storage POD bay, the 16" plus refractor were all shifted southwards allowing the height necessary to accommodate the entire system.
Once the alignment process was completed with the jig, guide holes were drilled into the concrete base before the actual steel pier was fitted atop.
In 2011, a unique guide book was published in which all of the proceeds are to be directed towards supporting the Observatory as well as other Friends of Killarney Park activities.
"A Camper's Guide to the Universe", has useful stories, anecdotes and much information derived from Bruce Waters' astronomy talks in the park.
The 10" telescope and observatory
KPPO Dome 2 with Dome Off-2
Aerial view of the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex at the Stars over Killarney event (2018). Photo: Colin Durocher
The Milky-way rising over the La Cloche Mountain range during fall in Killarney Provincial Park
The Aurora Borealis above the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory, during the October 10, 2024 event.
Stars over Killarney Provincial Park Observatory
M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, Killarney Provincial Park Observatory
M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy as imaged in HaOiiiRGB from the 0.4 Metre telescope within the K'chi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory complex
NGC 4565, the Needle Galaxy as imaged from the 0.4 Metre telescope within the K'chi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory complex
NGCs 4038 and 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, as imaged in HaOiiiRGB from the 0.4 Metre telescope within the K'chi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory complex
M13, the Hercules globular cluster through the 0.4 Metre telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
M45, the Pleiades Cluster as taken through the 0.13 Metre telescope within the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
M11, the Wild Duck Cluster as taken through the 10" (0.25 Metre) telescope in the Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
M35, NGC 2158 and IC 2157 as taken through the 0.13 Metre telescope in the Kchi Waasa DeBaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory
The Veil Nebula (NGC 6960, NGC 6992 and NGC 6995) as imaged with a 61mm telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
M20, the Trifid Nebula as taken by the 10" (0.25 Metre) telescope in the Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
M8, the Lagoon Nebula and open cluster NGC 6530, imaged with the 130mm telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
M57, the Ring Nebula imaged through the 0.4 Metre telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
A single 10 second image of M27, the Dumbell Nebula, imaged through the 0.4 Metre telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
The Rho Ophiuchi Nebula Complex taken from a 61mm refractor from the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory. Total integration time is 21 minutes
M42 as imaged with both the 0.13 Metre and 0.40 Metre telescopes in the Kchi Waasa DeBaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory
Albireo Killarney Provincial Park Observatory
Half-Moon, through the 0.4 Metre telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory Complex
Mars imaged with the 0.4 metre telescope in the Kchi Waasa Debaabing Dome at the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory during the 2020 opposition
Jupiter with Europa taken at 6:05 UT on November 13, 2024 by the with 16" (40cm) telescope in the Kchi Waasa DeBaabing Dome in Killarney Provincial Park
Saturn imaged with the 10" telescope in the Waasa DeBaabing Dome in Killarney Provincial Park
