Boswell Observatory

Boswell Observatory stands on the Doane University campus in Crete, Nebraska, still working after more than a century as one of the oldest functioning teaching observatories in the country.

About Boswell Observatory

Built in 1883, Boswell Observatory is the oldest building on Doane's campus that remains in active use. It was originally a time-service observatory as well as a student teaching facility, and its first instrument, an eight-inch Alvan Clark refractor, is still in place and operable today. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Doane College Historic Buildings.

History

The observatory takes its name from Charles Boswell, a close friend of Doane's first president, David Brainerd Perry, who donated $5,000 to fund the building and its astronomy equipment, including the original eight-inch Alvan Clark telescope. Though it no longer operates as a weather station, the building has been carefully preserved.

Location & getting there

Boswell Observatory sits on Doane University's campus in Crete, Nebraska, a small city in the state's southeast. It remains part of the working campus, alongside the university's science and astronomy programs.

Visiting Boswell Observatory

The observatory is still used for astronomy classes and opens to the public at various times through the year for tours and telescope viewing through the original 8-inch equatorial telescope. Check Doane University's website for current open house dates before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

A star named through Star Register comes with genuine celestial coordinates, so any working telescope, including Boswell's historic 8-inch refractor, can in principle be pointed toward it on a clear night. Look up your star's right ascension and declination in the star catalogue, or start with a star naming package if you haven't named one yet.