Colombo University Observatory

On the campus of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Colombo University Observatory has weathered war, theft and decades of change while remaining a landmark for local astronomy.

About Colombo University Observatory

Located on Reid Avenue on the university grounds, the observatory is a permanently mounted telescope housed in its own rotating dome, used by the university's Mathematical and Astronomical Society.

History

Established in the 1920s, the observatory fell into disuse during the 1940s and 1950s after the Royal Air Force took it over during the Second World War and damaged it. It was restored and returned to operation in the early 1960s, remaining fully functional until the late 1980s, when its components were stolen during the 1987-89 insurrection in Sri Lanka. Efforts to restore the observatory have continued since, though its current operational status is not fully documented.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is a 12½-inch (32 cm) Newtonian reflector, solidly fixed on a polar mount inside a rotating hemispherical dome that moves on rollers.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Colombo, on the west coast of Sri Lanka.

Visiting Colombo University Observatory

Contact the university's Mathematical and Astronomical Society or check the society's website for the current status and any visiting arrangements before travelling.

See your named star from here

A 12.5-inch reflector like the one at Colombo University is more than capable of finding a single star by its exact coordinates. If you've named a star, look up its right ascension and declination any time in our star catalogue.