Adolphson Observatory

Adolphson Observatory crowns the Center for Science and Business on the campus of Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, giving students and the public access to one of the region's larger research telescopes.

About Adolphson Observatory

Built in 2013, the observatory's principal instrument is the 20-inch reflecting Trubeck Telescope. It supports undergraduate teaching and research, including student projects tracking and discovering near-earth objects, alongside a broader mission of public science outreach.

Telescopes & research

The 20-inch Trubeck Telescope is large enough for serious observational work, and Monmouth College students use it for hands-on astronomy research as well as coursework, including near-earth object tracking programs.

Location & getting there

The observatory is on the Monmouth College campus in Monmouth, Illinois, reached via the Center for Science and Business building at the heart of campus.

Visiting Adolphson Observatory

Monmouth College periodically hosts free public observatory nights, typically running 7–9 p.m., with activities both inside and on the rooftop observation deck. Because the deck is reached by a flight of metal stairs, it is not wheelchair accessible, and RSVP is usually required due to limited space. Check the college's events calendar for upcoming dates.

See your named star from here

A 20-inch research telescope like the Trubeck is capable of resolving many of the stars in our star catalogue. If you've named a star for someone, an open observatory night at Adolphson is a memorable way to try to spot it.