C. E. K. Mees Observatory

The C. E. K. Mees Observatory sits on the highest point of Ontario County, New York, where the University of Rochester has run its astronomy programme since 1965.

About C. E. K. Mees Observatory

C. E. K. Mees Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Rochester on a hilltop near Bristol, New York. It is named for C. E. Kenneth Mees, honoured for his pioneering work on the photographic emulsions used in early astronomical imaging.

History

The observatory was established in 1965 and has served the university's astronomy programme, faculty, and outreach visitors ever since.

Telescopes & research

The main instrument is a 24-inch (61 cm) Cassegrain telescope on an English-style mount, housed in a two-story dome. The site also carries a 12-inch Orion SkyQuest Dobsonian, a 6-inch Newtonian reflector kept as a historical piece, and a 6-inch refractor used for guiding. Sitting on the highest point in Ontario County, the observatory benefits from low light pollution and a relatively elevated, dark sky.

Location & getting there

The observatory is in Bristol, New York, on the highest ground in Ontario County. A university-run vacation home on site also hosts faculty retreats and overnight stays for visiting astronomers.

Visiting C. E. K. Mees Observatory

The University of Rochester welcomes the public to free tours of the observatory during the summer months. Check the university's astronomy department website for the current tour schedule before planning a trip, since sessions are seasonal and weather-dependent.

See your named star from here

With a 24-inch telescope and a dark hilltop sky, Mees Observatory is a genuinely good spot to try to find a named star. Look up its right ascension and declination in the catalogue, or name a star of your own before your visit.