Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is an educational ministry of French Camp Academy. This unique facility offers a window into the splendor of the heavens that few around the country or even the world can offer. The observatory site is located on State Highway 413 just off of the Natchez Trace Parkway in central Mississippi near the village of French Camp. Rainwater Observatory

French Camp Academy was founded in 1885 by a group of Scotch-Irish Christians on the site of an old French Canadian settler's trading post. The Rainwater Observatory 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 in Mississippi and elsewhere.

Even though we do have some research-grade equipment, the facility's mission is primarily educational. The Observatory, the largest in the state, is spread out on our hilltop site and has 16 telescopes plus other optical instruments.

Our largest telescopes are a 32-inch Tectron We also have a 20.5 inch Dobsonian telescope that yields spectacular views of the heavens.

Our daytime exhibits include a 300 foot scale model solar system, a large wall-mounted solar projection Analema/Calendar, sun clock, sundials, an 80' circumference celestial sphere, and a full-sized Stonehenge model that shows solstice and equinox sunrise and sunset points. These exhibits are used to demonstrate the Earth's motion and axial tilt, the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit and how the ancients predicted eclipses.

For more serious observers, we have a small warm-up/library classroom building with a refrigerator. We also have an airconditioned bunk house with 14 beds and the French Camp Bed & Breakfast and Lodge can serve other housing needs.

The Planetarium, which can seat as many as 50 people, is used primarily as a sky orientation device and for PowerPoint presentations. It is the only planetarium for about 100 miles, and one of only three in the state. We offer a variety of programs and exhibits depending on the season and current sky objects. Visiting groups may want to take in a short planetarium show then go to the Observatory to observe. Planetarium

McDonald Observatory, a research unit of The University of Texas at Austin, is one of the world's leading centers for astronomical research, teaching, and public education and outreach. Observatory facilities are located atop Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, which offer some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States. McDonald Observatory

McDonald's principal research telescopes are: The Hobby-Eberly Telescope With its 9.2-meter (433-inch) mirror, the HET is one of the world's largest optical telescopes. The HET, dedicated in 1997, is a joint project of The University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope was the third largest in the world when built. The telecope is used every clear night of the year. The Otto Struve Telescope was the first major telescope to be built at McDonald Observatory.

McDonald Observatory operates a multi-faceted international public outreach program. At the Observatory Visitors Center, outreach events include star parties, public tours, K-12 teacher and student actvities, and more.

McDonald also produces the StarDate and Universo radio programs, StarDate magazine, the StarDate Online and Universo Online web sites, and special programs for hundreds of elementary and secondary teachers across the United States. Websites

Recent projects they have done: Which Came First, the Black Hole or the Galaxy? Looking for Flares from Baby Stars

Our most recent addition to the telescope park is a unique 18" telescope known as the Wren-Marcario Accessible Telescope, or WMAT. This telescope is the result of many years of R&D, and its main feature is a wheelchair- accessible fixed eyepiece.