Grant O. Gale Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Grant O. Gale Observatory has served Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, since 1984, combining a research-grade telescope with regular public viewing nights.
About Grant O. Gale Observatory
Owned and operated by Grinnell College's Department of Physics, the observatory was constructed in 1984 and named after Grant O. Gale, a distinguished teacher and curator of the college's Physics Historical Museum. Designed by the Des Moines firm Woodburn and O'Neil, the building measures 38 by 55 feet and rises 26 feet to the top of its dome.
Telescopes & research
The observatory houses a 24-inch Cassegrain reflecting telescope built by DFM Engineering of Longmont, Colorado. Two computer systems support the site: one controls the telescope itself, and the other handles data acquisition, analysis, and storage of television images, allowing it to serve as both an instructional and a research tool.
Location & getting there
Grant O. Gale Observatory is located on the Grinnell College campus in Grinnell, Iowa, in the American Midwest.
Visiting Grant O. Gale Observatory
Beyond its role in physics instruction and research, the observatory is used for public viewing of astronomical phenomena under staff supervision; check with Grinnell College's Physics Department for current public event schedules before visiting.
See your named star from here
With a 24-inch reflector and staff-supervised public nights, Grant O. Gale Observatory has both the equipment and the audience to seek out the coordinates of a star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
