Hyde Observatory at Holmes Park

Hyde Memorial Observatory is a community astronomical observatory located in Lincoln, Nebraska, surrounded by Holmes Lake. It is run totally by volunteers, furnished through public donations, and devoted purely to public viewing.

The observatory features views of the night skies through its four telescopes and offers astronomy presentations every Saturday night, all free of charge. It is owned by Lincoln Parks & Recreation and operated by volunteers.

The observatory has a distinct history, dating back to the founding of the Prairie Astronomy Club in 1960. The club was started by a group of amateur astronomers, including Carroll Moore, Jess Williams, and Tom Pansing, who shared a passion for astronomy and wanted to create a community observatory.

Hyde Memorial Observatory offers programs such as Ringworld, Astro Shorts, and special showings of 'Earth's Nearest Neighbor: The Moon'. The telescopes are used to view deep sky objects, including galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters, as well as planets like Saturn and the Moon.

The observatory is available for group visits and star talks, which can be scheduled through Lincoln Parks and Recreation, depending on the availability of volunteers to host the event. Donations to support the observatory can be made through the Lincoln Parks donation form.