RESOLUTION NO. 240835

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Sponsor:  Councilmember Johnathan Duncan

RESOLUTION - Honoring the Warkoczewski Astronomical and Teaching Observatory’s 50th Anniversary.

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WHEREAS, the Warkoczewski Astronomical and Teaching Observatory was created and dedicated to the education of the students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the citizens of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area, visitors to the city, and surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, the Warkoczewski Astronomical and Teaching Observatory, fondly recognized by visitors and staff as the “Warko” observatory, has served the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area as an educational center for astronomy and space exploration since September 1974; and

WHEREAS, the Warko observatory was completed in 1958 by Stan Warkoczewski as a gift for his wife, Helen, who introduced him to astronomy, and was donated to the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1964; and

WHEREAS, now permanently located on the roof of Royall Hall on the UMKC Volker Campus, the Warko is owned by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and operated by the Astronomical Society of Kansas City, under the direction of Joseph Wright and through the dedication of volunteer staff astronomers, offering free educational and public outreach to bring awareness and promote interest in astronomy to the general public; and

WHEREAS, one of only two major observatories open to the public in the region, the Warko has hosted thousands of visitors and school kids over the years, treating them to marvelous sights including the seven planets, Pluto, Milky Way objects hundreds to thousands of light years away, and billions of stars contained in galaxies millions of light years away, and plans to continue well into the future sharing the day and night sky; and

WHEREAS, the Warko celebrates its Golden Anniversary as a permanent fixture on Royall Hall at UMKC on September 20, 2024, cultivating generations of amateur, student, and professional astronomers in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:                     

That the Mayor and Council hereby honor the Warkoczewski Astronomical and Teaching Observatory for its 50th Anniversary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Joseph Wright, with the appreciation of the Mayor and Council for the Warko’s continued legacy in Kansas City.

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