Broken Arrow Oklahoma Astronomy / Oil Capital Observing Center

Oil Capital Rod and Gun Club at 101st Street & 305th East Avenue

Oil Capital Rod and Gun Club is a private facility for the benefit of membership and guests. If you are not a member of Oil Capital and wish to enjoy our astronomy program, you may contact me via phone (918) 808-3158 or at dracura94@aol.com.  For security purposes, “after hours” limited attendance events require individual members to control access. I’ll come to meet you and open the gate.

If you are a member of Oil Capital and also an amateur astronomer, you have 24 hour access and may enjoy our dark skies with non member guests any time you like.

The purpose of OCRGC having an astronomy program is to provide a telescope, teach the basics of astronomy and astronomical paraphernalia.  This is a program, not an “astronomy club”.

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Observing Basics 1

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Seeing the Cosmos

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Creation

Earth - Pale Blue Dot

Oil Capital Astronomy Observing Center

Oil Capital Astronomy Map and Directions

Click Here for Map and Directions

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 Telescope Basics

Under Construction

Astronomy Optics and Systems

Under Construction

Galileo Gallilee - Heretic / Visionary  

In 1609 Galileo was the first person to use a telescope to study the universe.  This irritated Pope Paul  V (Camillo Borghese) like a mustard stain on a frock. OOPS! time to get the chopping block!

Yep -the Catholic Church threatened to execute Galileo because his observations contested their mandated belief that the earth is the center of the universe.  He ended up under house arrest for most of his remaining years to keep everybody happy. I went to a Catholic high school; I don’t think their discipline is as strict now.

Squashing free will was much more important than saving souls back then. This year we celebrate a revolution that freed man’s mind to seek both knowledge and God on his own terms.

Astronomy has changed significantly in my lifetime