The Thomsen Observatory at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) has recently received a generous $13,350 grant to upgrade its equipment and facilities. This investment furthers our mission to provide an exceptional viewing and educational experience for the surrounding communities. Visitors to the observatory not only gain a deeper appreciation for the science of astronomy but also for the Creator of all that we can see and beyond.

Public star parties are held on the first and third Friday nights of each month, weather permitting. Additionally, schools, Pathfinders, Scouts, church groups, and families can schedule private sessions at the observatory on other days. For special occasions, parents have even hosted their children's birthday parties at the Thomsen.

The grant will enable us to complete our collection of viewing telescopes with the purchase of an electronic Celestron Origin telescope. The telescope's portability makes it ideal for off-site presentations at schools, libraries, and star parties in nearby communities. Other new equipment includes:

• A small telescope for budding astronomers
• Planet globes with accurate graphics
• Solar models for demonstration purposes
• Meta 3S VR glasses, which allow guests to experience projected planetarium lessons while seated
• A Signature Solar System 400k, featuring solar panels, an inverter, battery systems, and a control computer to track energy production by our "star" and monitor energy variations due to cloud cover or the setting/rising sun. This system allows us to view data from previous days, months, and years.

Additionally, the grant will fund a waterless toilet to replace the current porta-potty. This upgrade will be a blessing, especially for the women who visit the observatory. The new waterless toilet will be installed in a well-lit indoor bathroom with a portable sink for hand washing, as city water and sewer connections are unavailable at the observatory.

We are deeply grateful to the Versacare Foundation for their continued support of the Thomsen Observatory. Their generosity allows us to continue sharing the wonders of creation with our visitors. Since reopening in 2018, we have placed special emphasis on sharing Biblical accounts of creation, as opposed to evolution or intelligent design. While more than half of our visitors have no affiliation with Adventism, and many are not faith-based believers, we strive to reach all with the message of creation. Of our ten main volunteers, only four are Seventh-day Adventist members, but most are deeply rooted in Christianity.

As Psalms 19:1 (NIV) says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."