Hobbs Observatory

Hobbs Observatory sits in the Beaver Creek Reserve four miles north of Fall Creek, Wisconsin, where it has hosted public stargazing for the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire since 1978.

About Hobbs Observatory

Owned and operated by the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire's Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hobbs Observatory is also home base for the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society. Its main instrument is a 24-inch reflector, originally a U.S. Navy telescope, at a site roughly 285 metres above sea level within the Beaver Creek Reserve.

History

The observatory was built in 1978 with funding from the Hobbs Foundation, a local philanthropic organisation that provided the money for construction and for purchasing the Navy surplus telescope that remains its primary instrument.

Telescopes & research

The 24-inch reflector anchors both public observing nights and the activities of the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society, which uses the observatory for amateur research and community outreach.

Location & getting there

Hobbs Observatory is set within the Beaver Creek Reserve, a wooded natural area four miles north of Fall Creek in western Wisconsin, offering darker skies than nearby Eau Claire.

Visiting Hobbs Observatory

The observatory hosts public sessions through the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society and the university; check their schedules or the Beaver Creek Reserve's website for upcoming open nights before visiting.

See your named star from here

With a 24-inch reflector on hand, Hobbs Observatory has the aperture to track down a named star at its precise coordinates; look up your star's position in our catalogue ahead of a public night.