Hawkeye Observatory

Hawkeye Observatory is a privately built astronomical facility in Durand, Illinois, purpose-built in 2006 for high-precision imaging of asteroids and stellar occultations.

About Hawkeye Observatory

Hawkeye Observatory was constructed in 2006 at an elevation of roughly 758 feet (231 m) and specializes in asteroid imaging and occultation observations - recording the moment an asteroid briefly blocks the light of a background star to help refine its size and orbit.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's primary instrument is an 18-inch f/4.5 Scudco telescope mounted on a German equatorial mount, fitted with a Galaxy Optics mirror, a JMI Crayford focuser, a Sky Commander computerized goto system, and adaptive optics for sharper imaging. The setup is housed in a 14-by-16-foot roll-off roof building with three drop-down walls that open the sky to the horizon.

Location & getting there

Hawkeye Observatory is in Durand, Illinois, in the North America region, within reach of the wider Rockford area. Its roll-off roof design and open walls are built specifically to give the 18-inch telescope an unobstructed view for occultation timing work.

Visiting Hawkeye Observatory

As a specialized research setup rather than a public visitor centre, opening arrangements are not published. Check the official website or contact the operator directly if you would like to arrange a visit.

See your named star from here

An observatory built for precision astrometry, like Hawkeye Observatory, is exactly the kind of place where a star's exact coordinates matter. If you've named a star, the same right ascension and declination on your certificate can guide a telescope like this one to your star - browse the star catalogue to find yours.