CAS Dark Sky Sites

About the dark sky sites.

CAS owns two properties which our members utilize as dark sky sites for avoiding city lights when observing or practicing astrophotography. One site is located in Adams County, Ohio and was acquired in 1993. This site was rededicated in 2015 as the Stewart Dark Sky Site (SDSS), named for our founder DeLisle Stewart. The second location known as Starfield Observatory (SFO), is in Bracken County, Kentucky and was acquired by CAS in 2015.

All CAS members have access to these sites from day one of membership. Upon joining you will be provided the location of both sites. Both locations are remote, and camping rules apply. Both sites are dark enough to see the Milky Way on clear nights, and each site has benefits the other does not have. You will be given more details when you participate in one of the CAS welcome and orientation programs.

Adams County, Ohio

SDSS offers wide open views in nearly every direction.

The Stewart Dark Sky site in Adams County is located just a few miles away from Peebles, Ohio. It offers sweeping views of the sky in nearly every direction, but mostly toward the South (it has been said that Omega Centauri is visible along the horizon from the hilltop under the right conditions). There is a parking area for members to drive right up and set up their telescopes out of the back of their vehicles. There are several posts in this area that provide electrical outlets to each car. There is no running water on site, but there is a porta-potty for member use. There is also a large concrete slab to use if you prefer to set up your telescope off the grass.

There is a small bunkhouse on the site where members may sleep if they prefer. It can hold 3-4 people if proper planning is employed. It’s best to bring a cot for use inside the bunk house. There is a microwave there as well.

The site can be a bit difficult to navigate, especially in the Winter months as it sits high on a ridge. The drive up from the road is rather steep and could be challenging for someone hauling a heavy load, or with a car that has seen better days.

We recommend members make their first visit there during the day as it can be difficult to find the entrance off Route 41 in the dark. There is a code to unlock the gate, and a code to open the bunkhouse, which will be provided upon joining CAS.

Bracken County, Kentucky

Starfield Observatory has something for everyone .

The Starfield Observatory Dark Sky Site in Bracken County, Kentucky is home to the Rismiller 20-inch telescope. But CAS members need not be qualified to operate the observatory to enjoy this site in rural Kentucky. While offering stunning Southern views of the Milky Way, the site is a serene location in a wooded area where users can go to set up their own telescope, or just hang out on the new StarDeck and observe a meteor shower.

Also on site is a secondary “warm room” which houses a 15-inch Dobsonian for member use, which requires no training beforehand (members should still ask for help if unfamiliar with the equipment). Access to this site is immediate upon becoming a member of CAS. Directions are provided upon completing the membership process. As with our Adams County site, we recommend members making their first trip to Starfield do so in the daytime, as it is somewhat secluded.

Once on site, members will see why this is fast becoming a great place just to relax under the stars for an evening. Camping rules apply. There is exterior power for use with telescopes or other camping gear. There is no running water but there are two porta-potties on site. The StarDeck allows members a place to get out their favorite camping chair and relax under the stars without sitting out in the grass.