Carroll observatory

Carroll Observatory is an astronomical observatory on the campus of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, used for both teaching and research.

About Carroll Observatory

The observatory is named for George A. Carroll (1902–1987), chief instrument engineer at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and an amateur astronomer, whose gift of a telescope and funding for the building made the facility possible. Alongside the telescope room, Carroll Observatory includes a classroom, laboratory, dark room, office and storage space, supporting it as a working astronomy facility rather than a simple viewing dome.

History

Carroll Observatory was built in 1954, following George A. Carroll's donation. It was originally equipped with a 16-inch Newtonian telescope, which has since been upgraded.

Telescopes & research

The observatory now houses a 24-inch f/8 Cassegrain telescope with Ritchey-Chrétien optics, offering more than twice the light-gathering power and nearly twice the resolving power of the original 16-inch instrument. It is used by Westmont College for astronomy teaching and student research.

Location & getting there

Carroll Observatory sits on the Westmont College campus in Santa Barbara, California, in the foothills above the city.

Visiting Carroll Observatory

As a college facility, Carroll Observatory is primarily used for Westmont's astronomy courses and research. Check Westmont College's website for any public open nights or events before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

With a 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope capable of resolving faint detail, a facility like Carroll Observatory is exactly the kind of instrument that could be aimed at a named star's coordinates. Name a star today, or browse the star catalogue to see what's already been named.