Crane Observatory

In Topeka, Kansas, Crane Observatory sits atop Stoffer Science Hall on the Washburn University campus, where a telescope older than the building itself still tracks the night sky for students and visitors alike.

About Crane Observatory

Crane Observatory is owned and operated by Washburn University and houses a 6-inch refracting telescope that has served the campus since the early twentieth century. The instrument is 165 inches long and weighs around 1,000 pounds, mounted on the fourth floor of Stoffer Science Hall.

History

The telescope was purchased in 1901 after first being exhibited at the Paris Exposition, making it one of the older working instruments of its kind still in regular use. It survived a direct hit from the 1966 Topeka tornado, which tore through much of the university campus, and remains in operation today.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Topeka, Kansas, on the Washburn University campus in North America. Being on the top floor of a campus science building, it's easy to reach on foot once you're on campus, with plenty of nearby parking.

Visiting Crane Observatory

Washburn University opens Crane Observatory to the public for free viewing sessions on a seasonal schedule, with a planetarium show offered as a backup on cloudy nights. For current dates and times, contact the physics department at 785-670-2141 or [email protected] before you go.

See your named star from here

Once you've named a star through Star Register, staff or fellow visitors at a public viewing night can help point a telescope toward its coordinates. Look up your star's exact position any time in the star catalogue.