Hector J. Robinson Observatory

Hector J. Robinson Observatory is a community astronomical facility in Lincoln Park, Michigan, built by the local Board of Education and open to the public since the 1960s.

About Hector J. Robinson Observatory

The observatory is housed in a 14-foot (4.3 m) diameter, 8-foot (2.4 m) high concrete block building topped with a rotating metal dome and retractable shutter. It was built by the local Board of Education and became operational in 1965, later dedicated to Hector J. Robinson in 1975.

History

Construction ran from 1964 to 1965, and the observatory has served the Lincoln Park community ever since. After a period of renovation, it resumed operations in September 2009 with an upgraded Celestron C-14 telescope featuring computer control, goto tracking, and astrophotography capability, replacing the original 14-inch Celestron SCT.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's current instrument is a Celestron C-14 telescope with computerized goto tracking, allowing visitors and students to locate objects across the sky and capture astrophotography images.

Location & getting there

Hector J. Robinson Observatory is in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in the North America region, within the Detroit metropolitan area - an accessible stop for local stargazers and school groups.

Visiting Hector J. Robinson Observatory

The observatory has traditionally supported public and school visits through Lincoln Park Public Schools. Check the school district's website for current opening times and any scheduled public viewing nights before visiting.

See your named star from here

With its goto-tracking Celestron telescope, Hector J. Robinson Observatory can be pointed at precise sky coordinates - exactly what's printed on a Star Register certificate. Name a star of your own, or browse the star catalogue.