Encounter In the Avu Observatory

Decades ago, in elementary school, a friend of mine told me about a creepy story he'd read.  I could envision it all in my head, right out in the sunlight on the playground.  When I came upon 28 SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF H. G. WELLS years later, I realized he was describing "Avu Observatory."  That it made such an impression on me second hand, in totally non-creepy surroundings, is a testament to Wells' writing ability.