The Branched Oak Observatory is possible because of so many kind of giving individuals and businesses. Together we have accomplished so much since the observatory was nothing but a mere idea. We know that many of our supporters are struggling with the pandemic and economic downturn this year, so we are especially thankful to all who have helped us “weather the storm.” We offer a variety of opportunities for your involvement and support of astronomy activities and events. These are:

• Volunteer at Our Public Star Parties
Arrive up to 2 hours before the advertised observing session to set up your own equipment. Alternatively, you could join us sans equipment to act as an on-site astronomy expert for the event. In either case, there is no need to contact us beforehand, just let us know when you arrive, and we will give you an official “Night Sky Docent” lanyard.

• Become an Observatory Associate
We are looking for a few good men and women who would like to not only help at star parties, but to also help behind the scenes with program development and facility construction. Whenever we are getting together to work on a project at the observatory, we will contact you to see if you are available. There is no obligation whatsoever. All Observatory Associates will be listed on the About Us page.

• Donate Equipment
If you have any astronomical equipment; telescopes, CCD imagers, eyepieces, binoculars, etc., new or used, that you would like to donate to the Branched Oak Observatory, we would very much be interested in putting it to good use. All donations are 100% tax-deductible as provided by law of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and IRC Sections 170, 2055, 2106, and 2522. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires donors to value their items.

• Donate Funds
Creating and maintaining a facility like Branched Oak Observatory is a major endeavor. Without contributions from science enthusiasts like you, we may never be able to fully realize our potential to serve the students and citizens of Nebraska. Anything you can contribute would be greatly appreciated.

Please use the form to make a contribution. 100% of your donation will go towards equipment, programming materials, and maintenance of the Branched Oak Observatory. All donations are tax-deductible as provided by law of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and IRC Section 170.

All contributions are greatly appreciated!

For any questions or inquiries about how you can help the Branched Oak Observatory, please use our contact page. Responses are typically 2-3 business days.