Creighton University Observatory

Founded in 1886 by a Jesuit priest with a knack for astronomy, Creighton University Observatory once stood on the university's Omaha, Nebraska campus as the state's second observatory, before it was demolished in 2022.

About Creighton University Observatory

Creighton University Observatory was located on the Creighton University campus in Omaha, Nebraska, and served for over a century as a teaching and research facility for the university's physics and astronomy programme.

History

The observatory was built between October and December 1885 and opened in 1886, founded by Rev. William F. Rigge. It was the first observatory in Omaha and only the second in the state of Nebraska. In 1887, Father Rigge brought it national attention by exchanging astronomical signals with the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., and by 1902 it was listed among the world's official observatories. It was used mainly to instruct students, though its directors also carried out research. The building was demolished in late April 2022 to make way for a new Jesuit residence hall.

Location & getting there

The observatory stood on the Creighton University campus in Omaha, Nebraska. The site is now occupied by newer campus buildings, so there's no observatory structure left to visit in person.

Visiting today

Because the original building was demolished in 2022, there's no longer a physical observatory to tour. Its history lives on in Creighton University's archives and in accounts of Father Rigge's pioneering work.

See your named star

Although the original Creighton Observatory is gone, you can still name a star in its honour and pinpoint it any time using the coordinates in the star catalogue.