Bradley Observatory

Bradley Observatory stands on the Agnes Scott College campus in Decatur, Georgia, just five miles east of Atlanta, built around a telescope with an unusually eventful past.

About Bradley Observatory

The observatory's centrepiece is the Beck Telescope, a vintage 30-inch Cassegrain reflector built in 1930, with a mount by Warner & Swasey and optics by Fecker. Originally owned by amateur astronomer Henry Gibson, it was purchased by Agnes Scott College in 1947 for about $15,000, after an offer from the Soviet Union was turned down for Cold War-related reasons. Alongside the telescope dome, the building houses classrooms, faculty offices, an observing plaza, and a 70-seat planetarium fitted with a mechanical Zeiss star projector.

History

The observatory building was dedicated in 1950, and for years the Beck Telescope was the largest in the Southeastern United States, a title it held until Atlanta's Fernbank Observatory opened its 36-inch telescope in 1972. The building is a contributing structure within the South Candler Street-Agnes Scott College Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location & getting there

Bradley Observatory sits on the Agnes Scott College campus in Decatur, Georgia, about five miles east of downtown Atlanta, making it an easy stop for visitors already in the metro area.

Visiting Bradley Observatory

Groups can request a tour through an online form on the Bradley Observatory website, and the college also runs an Open House Series with public viewing nights and planetarium shows. Check the observatory's event calendar for upcoming dates before you travel.

See your named star from here

Bradley's historic 30-inch Beck Telescope and planetarium make it a memorable place to search for a named star. Look up its coordinates in the star catalogue and mention them when you request a tour.