Cupillari Observatory

In Fleetville, Pennsylvania, the Thomas G. Cupillari Observatory has been sharing views of the night sky with the public since 1973, using a telescope with a surprising television pedigree.

About Cupillari Observatory

The Thomas G. Cupillari Observatory is owned and operated by Keystone College and sits at the intersection of Route 107 and Hack Road in the La Plume area of Fleetville, Pennsylvania.

History

The observatory was founded in 1973 by Professor Thomas G. Cupillari, who taught physics, mathematics and astronomy at Keystone College. He built it around a dome and telescope purchased from television personality Dave Garroway. Cupillari retired from teaching in 2007 and stepped down as the observatory's director in 2015; he died in 2021, but the observatory that carries his name continues its community programme.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located at the corner of Route 107 and Hack Road in Fleetville, part of the La Plume area of Pennsylvania, on Keystone College's grounds.

Visiting Cupillari Observatory

Keystone College runs free, scheduled public viewing sessions using professional telescopes, with the moon, planets, star clusters and galaxies all regular targets, as part of the college's community service programme. Check the college's current schedule before you go.

See your named star from here

Once you've named a star through Star Register, a scheduled session at Cupillari Observatory is a great place to try spotting it. Look up its exact coordinates in the star catalogue beforehand.