Catholic University Observatory

Catholic University Observatory was a historic astronomical facility at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, United States.

About Catholic University Observatory

The university itself was founded in 1887, and the observatory building followed in 1890. It housed a 15-foot diameter dome fitted with a 9-inch aperture telescope, a substantial instrument for its era.

History

The observatory was put to work quickly: by 1892 it was being used to observe comets, and by 1910 the university was offering both general and practical astronomy courses built around the facility. The observatory is now defunct, but its legacy survives on campus — the telescope's base can still be seen along the pathway between Aquinas Hall and Curley Court, an area now commemorated as Observatory Walk.

Location & getting there

The site sits on the Catholic University of America campus in Washington, DC. Use the map above for exact coordinates and directions.

Visiting Catholic University Observatory

The observatory building itself is no longer active, but its former site along Observatory Walk is accessible as part of the public university campus. Check current campus visiting guidelines before you go.

See your named star from here

Standing where astronomy students once tracked comets over a century ago, it's easy to imagine training a telescope on a fresh set of coordinates. Name a star to get its exact position, then look it up in the catalogue to see it in the sky over Washington, DC.