Brackett Observatory

Brackett Observatory has been the astronomical home of Pomona College in Claremont, California since 1908, evolving from an early teaching dome into a fully computerised research and outreach facility.

About Brackett Observatory

The observatory serves as the on-campus hub for Pomona College's astronomy program, hosting classrooms and offices alongside its telescopes. A major 2001 renovation replaced the older instruments with modern 14-inch computer-controlled Paramount telescopes fitted with CCD cameras, and a second advanced telescope system was added in 2003.

History

Built in 1908, Brackett Observatory takes its name from Frank Parkhurst Brackett, a Pomona College professor of astronomy. Beyond its own dome, the program also has remote access to a 1-metre telescope located in Wrightwood, California.

Telescopes & research

Current instruments include two 14-inch computer-controlled Paramount telescopes with CCD imaging, a 10-inch Meade LX200 housed in the automated Robodome, and an H-alpha solar telescope, plus a lucky-camera system used for high-resolution planetary and solar imaging.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on Pomona College's campus in Claremont, California, part of the Claremont Colleges cluster east of Los Angeles.

Visiting Brackett Observatory

Pomona College hosts public events at Brackett Observatory throughout the year, sharing the night sky with the wider community. Contact the Physics and Astronomy Department for current event schedules before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Brackett's computer-controlled telescopes are well suited to locating a specific point in the sky, including the coordinates of a named star. Check your star's right ascension and declination in the star catalogue and ask about it at a public event.