Evelyn L. Egan Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
On the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, the Evelyn L. Egan Observatory gives students and the public alike a serious telescope to explore the Gulf Coast's night sky.
About Evelyn L. Egan Observatory
The observatory sits on the FGCU campus and serves teaching, research and community outreach, hosting a variety of public events. It is used by the Southwest Florida Astronomical Society as well as the university community.
History
The observatory was funded by a $125,000 donation from Evelyn L. Egan in 1999, matched by the state. Ground was broken in 2000, the facility opened in 2002 and became fully functional in 2003.
Telescopes & research
Its primary instrument is a 16-inch Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope, the same optical design used by the Hubble Space Telescope. The observatory also has five computerized portable telescopes used for astronomy classes.
Location & getting there
The observatory is in North America, in the United States, on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus in Fort Myers, Florida.
Visiting Evelyn L. Egan Observatory
The observatory hosts community events and public outreach nights; check FGCU's official website for the current schedule before planning a visit.
See your named star from here
With a Hubble-design telescope on site, the Evelyn L. Egan Observatory is well equipped to help you track down your own named star using its coordinates. Name a star or check the star catalogue to find where it sits.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
