Astronomical Research Observatory, Charleston

Near Charleston, Illinois, the Astronomical Research Institute (ARI) built the observatory that would go on to become one of the world's most productive trackers of near-Earth objects.

About the observatory

ARI is a non-profit founded in 2002 by Robert Holmes, who personally reported 11,593 asteroid and near-Earth object observations to the Minor Planet Center. Its Charleston site was equipped by 2008 with 24-inch (0.61m) and 32-inch (0.81m) robotic telescopes.

History

The Charleston facility, in partnership with Eastern Illinois University, gave students direct access to research-grade telescope time. Between 2008 and 2009, ARI relocated its main operations 12 miles west to Westfield, Illinois, in search of darker skies, though the Charleston site marks the institute's original home.

Telescopes & research

ARI's core mission is tracking near-Earth objects, asteroids whose orbits bring them within Earth's own orbit; the institute has at times supplied more than half of the world's NEO tracking data.

Location & getting there

The site is located near Charleston, Illinois, in the American Midwest, close to Eastern Illinois University's campus.

Visiting

ARI's public role is largely educational, offering students observation time on its telescopes; check with the institute directly for current access arrangements.

See your named star from here

An institute built for tracking faint, fast-moving objects has the equipment and expertise to find the fixed coordinates of a named star too. Look up your star's position in the star catalogue before getting in touch.