When the observatory was built in 1962, it was located at a dark sky site, but Chesterfield County has grown since then. Now the site is adjacent to a shopping center, which greatly reduces its usefulness for deep sky work. The combination of unobstructed optics, large aperture,and long focal length make this scope best for Lunar, Solar, and Planetary work. Fortunately, light pollution has the least effect on this kind of work.
To gain individual access to the observatory a society member must take
an orientation course and pay an additional $10.00 a year in dues. The
dues go to a fund for the support of the observatory.