Fox Observatory

Fox Observatory sits in Markham Park, west of Fort Lauderdale in Sunrise, Florida, where it has hosted free public stargazing every Saturday night for decades.

About Fox Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association (SFAAA), founded in 1965. It was dedicated on 20 March 1977 and named for Dr. Joseph Dennison Fox, a retired University of Puerto Rico astronomy professor who donated its founding telescope, a 6-inch f/15 Brandon refractor, in June 1973.

History

The Brandon refractor's objective lens was ground from special Dow-Corning glass, a design unique enough to earn a patent, and was originally mounted on landing gear salvaged from a World War II P-38 fighter before being fitted to a 1923 Zeiss equatorial mount. Between 1993 and 1995, the instrument was fully restored, with its lens refinished by D&G Optical. Since the observatory opened in 1977, more than 100,000 visitors have come through its doors.

Telescopes & research

Today the observatory houses a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (f/10), the restored 6-inch Brandon refractor, and several Dobsonian reflectors used during public sessions.

Location & getting there

Fox Observatory is at 16001 West State Road 84 in Markham Park, Sunrise, Florida, about 12 miles west of Fort Lauderdale.

Visiting Fox Observatory

The observatory is open to the public free of charge every Saturday night, from sunset until around 11:30pm in summer or 10:30pm in winter, weather permitting. For questions, the SFAAA can be reached at (954) 384-0442.

See your named star from here

With multiple telescopes and decades of public viewing experience, the volunteers at Fox Observatory are well equipped to find any point in the sky, including the coordinates of a named star. Name a star or look it up in the star catalogue.