Burke-Gaffney Observatory

Burke-Gaffney Observatory is an education, outreach and research observatory in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, operated by Saint Mary's University's Department of Astronomy and Physics.

About Burke-Gaffney Observatory

The observatory sits on the roof of the 22-storey Loyola Residence tower and is named in honour of Rev. M. W. Burke-Gaffney, S.J. (1896–1979), founder of Saint Mary's astronomy department. Its main instrument, the Dr. Ralph M. Medjuck Telescope, supports undergraduate astronomy education, public outreach and modest research projects, and the observatory has the distinction of being the world's first Twitter-controlled observatory.

History

Burke-Gaffney Observatory opened in 1972 with a 16-inch Ealing telescope and underwent an extensive upgrade and renovation in 2013.

Telescopes & research

The observatory now centres on the Dr. Ralph M. Medjuck Telescope, used across teaching, public engagement and small-scale research work by the university's astronomy and physics department.

Location & getting there

The observatory is on the roof of the Loyola Residence tower on the Saint Mary's University campus in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Visiting Burke-Gaffney Observatory

Burke-Gaffney Observatory holds public open houses with telescope viewing, typically lasting one to two hours and including discussion of astronomical objects; check the university's observatory page for current dates.

See your named star from here

The team behind the world's first Twitter-controlled observatory is well versed in pointing a telescope at precise coordinates — just what you get with a star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the catalogue.