Burrell Memorial Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
On the northern edge of Baldwin Wallace University's campus in Berea, Ohio, the Burrell Memorial Observatory has been opening its dome to stargazers since 1940. It houses one of Ohio's largest refracting telescopes and remains a working teaching observatory today.
About Burrell Memorial Observatory
The observatory was built in 1940 as a memorial to Edward P. Burrell and sits on the Baldwin Wallace University campus in Berea, Ohio, a small city just southwest of Cleveland. It is run by the university for teaching and public outreach.
History
Burrell Memorial Observatory was established in 1940, making it one of the older campus observatories still in regular use in Ohio. Its centrepiece, a Warner & Swasey refracting telescope with a 13⅜-inch (34 cm) objective lens, has made it the second-largest refractor in the state ever since.
Telescopes & equipment
Alongside the Warner & Swasey main refractor, the dome carries a 4-inch and a 1-inch finder scope. The instrument is used mainly for student instruction and public observing nights rather than professional research programmes.
Location & getting there
The observatory sits on Baldwin Wallace University's campus in Berea, Ohio, within easy reach of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Use the map and directions above to plan a visit to campus.
Visiting Burrell Memorial Observatory
Baldwin Wallace holds public open houses and lecture nights through the year, after which the dome opens for telescope viewing, weather permitting. Events are free, though tickets are typically required and donations are welcomed. Check the university's events calendar before travelling, since sessions depend on clear skies.
See your named star from here
Because any telescope can be pointed at a set of coordinates, the volunteers who run Burrell's public nights can help you find the exact spot in the sky where your named star sits. Browse the star catalogue for its right ascension and declination, or choose a naming package before your next visit to the dome.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
