Gurley Observatory

Gurley Observatory has topped Mills Hall on the Marietta College campus in Marietta, Ohio, since 1882, making it one of the older college observatories in the United States.

About Gurley Observatory

Formally the William Chamberlain Gurley Observatory, it is named for its founding director, William Chamberlain Gurley, and remains part of Marietta College's astronomy programme today.

History

The observatory was built in 1882, originally equipped with a 6.25-inch refractor purchased in time to observe the transit of Venus that December; that telescope is still housed there. A glass plate from an 1882 John Byrne telescope at the observatory produced what is credited as the first published photograph of the Moon in an American periodical, appearing in Scientific American.

Telescopes & research

Alongside its historic 6.25-inch refractor, the observatory's main instrument today is a 14-inch Meade LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, supplemented by several smaller telescopes used by Marietta College astronomy students.

Location & getting there

Gurley Observatory sits atop Mills Hall on the Marietta College campus in Marietta, Ohio, in the southeastern part of the state. Use the map on this page for exact coordinates and directions.

Visiting Gurley Observatory

The observatory is used primarily by students enrolled in Marietta College astronomy courses. Check with the college's planetarium or astronomy department for any public open nights before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

With telescopes ranging from an 1882 refractor to a modern 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, Gurley Observatory has the instruments to find almost any point in the sky. Name a star to get its coordinates, or browse the star catalogue to see what others have named.