Boca Raton Observatory

Boca Raton Observatory, formally the FAU Astronomical Observatory, sits under a four-metre dome on the Science Building roof at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

About Boca Raton Observatory

The observatory is operated by Florida Atlantic University's Department of Physics and Astronomy. Its main instrument is a 14-inch Celestron Edge HD Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope mounted on a Losmandy HGM Titan equatorial drive, controlled with a Losmandy Gemini computer system.

Telescopes & research

Alongside the main telescope, the observatory has a Daystar 0.5Å Quantum Professional Edition hydrogen-alpha filter for solar observing, CCD cameras, spectroscopic filters, and a meteorite collection. The setup rests on a vibration-dampening pedestal built with viscous silicone oil, helical springs, and lead weights to keep images steady.

Location & getting there

The observatory is at 777 Glades Road on the FAU campus in Boca Raton, Florida, housed on the roof of the Science Building.

Visiting Boca Raton Observatory

FAU holds free public viewing sessions on the first Friday and third Tuesday of each month, with outdoor conditions once the dome opens. Sessions are subject to weather, so it's worth checking the observatory's website before heading over.

See your named star from here

The Edge HD telescope and computerised mount at Boca Raton Observatory are built for finding precise coordinates in the sky. Name a star with Star Register and bring its RA/Dec along to a public viewing night, or browse the catalogue first.