Baker Observatory

Baker Observatory sits in the dark countryside of Webster County, Missouri, about 10 miles northwest of Marshfield. Owned and operated by Missouri State University, it is officially named the William G. and Retha Stone Baker Observatory after its benefactors.

About Baker Observatory

The observatory is run by Missouri State University's Department of Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science. It houses a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain and a 16-inch Cassegrain telescope, used for student instruction and public education rather than professional research.

Telescopes & research

Students and staff use the 14-inch and 16-inch instruments for observational astronomy classes, tracking planets, the Moon, star clusters, and deep-sky objects away from Springfield's light pollution.

Location & getting there

Baker Observatory is located off Missouri Highway 38 in rural Webster County, in the North America region of the United States, chosen for its comparatively dark skies away from nearby towns.

Visiting Baker Observatory

The observatory hosts free public observing nights twice a year, weather permitting, and offers private group tours for schools, clubs, and families by arrangement with the physics department. Check the university's Facebook page or call ahead on the day of an event in case of cloud cover.

See your named star from here

Because Baker Observatory's telescopes can be pointed at any set of coordinates, a star named through Star Register can, in principle, be located here using its right ascension and declination. Browse naming packages or explore the star catalogue to find a star to call your own.