BREEZY POINT OBSERVATORY
Located at Camp Virgil Tate near Cross Lanes, WV, Breezy Point Observatory is home to the Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society. This rolling-roof fortress design observatory houses the club's Meade LX200 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope. The observatory is equipped with our Meade LX200 mounted to a Pier-Tech electric pier, a Dell PC with astronomy software, small library of astronomy related titles, star atlas' and other references, and a modest collection of eyepieces and filters, featuring TeleVue eyepieces. The observatory building is approximately 17 feet square and is situated at the northeast corner of a 30 x 50 foot concrete pad. The remainder of the concrete pad and the gravel area beside the pad is intended to provide members and guests with a place to set up their telescopes. The rolling-roof design allows the roof to be rolled off completely. As opposed to a dome style observatory, this style of observatory provides a "natural planetarium" feel as well as providing more a comfortable space for larger crowds. Both are essential when hosting star parties for students from our partner schools. Improvements and additions are always being made to the observatory. The recent addition of a new V-Rail system makes it easy for a single person to roll the roof back. The club also plans to install a radio telescope in the near future, allowing us a new view of the universe.
Breezy Point Observatory is host to the Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society star parties. Weather permitting, star parties take place throughout the year at Breezy Point Observatory. For more information see our events page. Anyone is welcome to attend any star parties or other events at Breezy Point Observatory.
Breezy Point Observatory is host to the Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society star parties. Weather permitting, star parties take place throughout the year at Breezy Point Observatory. For more information see our events page. Anyone is welcome to attend any star parties or other events at Breezy Point Observatory.
Driving Directions
To get to Camp Virgil Tate, take Interstate 64 to the Cross Lanes exit. At the end of the ramp, turn to go to Cross Lanes (away from the dog track) and follow Route 622. You will go through Cross Lanes and travel about 4 miles before 622 takes a left turn at a light. Take the left. You will continue for several miles over a curvy road with a few sharp turns and then pass the Baber Agee Church on your right. The turn into Camp Virgil Tate is about 1 mile past the church. The turn (to the left) is marked by a small green sign on the right side of the road. This turn will take you across a bridge and to a small paved road. Camp Virgil Tate is about 1 mile out the road. Once you enter Camp Virgil Tate, go through Virgil Tate to the first intersection and turn left to the Lodge. Go on past the lodge to the end of the parking lot to a dirt and gravel road. As you go up the hill, stay to the left (there is a dirt logging road going up the hill to the right that goes for miles until it gets so bad that you may get stuck). The observatory is at the top of the hill about 800 feet from the start of the dirt road. It is possible to park at the lodge and walk up the short distance.
***There is a "back way" to get to Camp Virgil Tate. Take I77 out of Charleston to the Tuppers Creek exit. At the end of the ramp, take a left. Go a little more than 1 mile to the intersection with Route 21. Take a right. Go a little over a mile, past Sissonsville High School and take a left at the light onto Route 622. There is a fairly large sign to Virgil Tate at the turn. Virgil Tate is a right turn 4.4 miles from the turn.
***There is a "back way" to get to Camp Virgil Tate. Take I77 out of Charleston to the Tuppers Creek exit. At the end of the ramp, take a left. Go a little more than 1 mile to the intersection with Route 21. Take a right. Go a little over a mile, past Sissonsville High School and take a left at the light onto Route 622. There is a fairly large sign to Virgil Tate at the turn. Virgil Tate is a right turn 4.4 miles from the turn.