Governor Aker Observatory

Governor Aker Observatory opened in 1995 as the very first attraction at Eastern Arizona College's Discovery Park Campus in Safford, Arizona.

About Governor Aker Observatory

Operated by Eastern Arizona College, Governor Aker Observatory opened to the public on November 18, 1995. Its main instrument is a 20-inch Cassegrain reflector, and the site also includes an astronomy exhibit gallery and a simulated voyage through the Solar System aboard a mock "space shuttle."

Telescopes & research

Beyond the 20-inch Cassegrain reflector, Governor Aker Observatory features one of the world's largest camera obscuras. The facility also organizes tours of the nearby Mount Graham International Observatory, one of the premier professional research sites in the region.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits within Eastern Arizona College's Discovery Park Campus in Safford, Arizona, in the state's high desert country.

Visiting Governor Aker Observatory

Governor Aker Observatory is a public-facing part of Discovery Park; check Eastern Arizona College's Discovery Park website for current hours, exhibits, and Mount Graham tour schedules before visiting.

See your named star from here

With a 20-inch reflector and a track record of guiding visitors around Mount Graham's professional telescopes, Governor Aker Observatory is well equipped to point toward the coordinates of a star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the catalogue.