The Near Earth Object Foundation is partnering with BrookeHillsPark, and the Space Studies
Institute to sponsor the Sir Arthur C. Clarke Near Earth Object Observatory.  The Sir Arthur C. Clarke Near Earth Object
Observatory was created as a prototype observatory to develop techniques and perform observations to discover,
characterize, and monitor near Earth objects (NEOs) which may potentially impact the Earth.  The Sir Arthur C. Clarke NEO
Observatory’s goals include not only observational astronomy, but the advancement of observational technology and the
education of those who in the future will carry on our mission.
    The dedication of the phase one Sir Arthur C. Clarke Near Earth Object Observatory coincided with Sir Arthur C.
Clarke’s 83rd birthday, Saturday December 16, 2000.  The dedication site was the phase one Observatory itself behind the
residence of 1916 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling West Virginia.
    The observatory dedication and celebration of Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s 83rd birthday included video-taped remarks by Sir. Arthur C. Clarke.  Representatives from our partners and West Virginia dignitaries were invited to attend.
    The Near Earth Object Foundation plans to eventually have a thousand such NEO observatories around the world
collectively dubbed the k-SkyWatch Survey, a program to survey the Earth’s sky for near Earth objects (NEOs), such as
asteroids and short and long period comets whose orbits cross the orbit of the Earth.  These NEOs have a potential of
catastrophically colliding with the Earth, resulting in possible severe devastation and widespread species extinction.
    The Near Earth Object Foundation staff is a dedicated group of Wheeling area amateur astronomers (The NEO Group)
assembling the materials and skills to start the grand vision of a global NEO defense survey - k-SkyWatch Survey.  The Sir
Arthur C. Clarke Near Earth Object Observatory is the first NEO Observatory in the k-SkyWatch Survey.
    The heart of the phase one Sir Arthur C. Clarke Near Earth Object Observatory is a computerized Meade
telescope complete with CCD camera.  The telescope is housed in a 6’ HOME DOME from Technical Innovations.  The
entire functioning of the observatory will eventually be remotely controlled.
    If you would like to learn more about this research and educational endeavor, please visit us at our website at
www.neofoundation.org