Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory

On the campus of the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, the Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory has been introducing local residents and students to the night sky since 1978.

About Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by the Community College of Rhode Island. It opened in 1978 and was renamed in 1995 in honour of Professor Margaret M. Jacoby, founder of the college's physics department, who secured the funding that made the facility possible.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's original 14-inch telescope was replaced in 2009 by a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain instrument. Alongside public outreach, the observatory and its director, astronomer Brendan Britton, have collaborated with physicists on exoplanet research, and the site is used to train community college students in operating and using the telescope.

Location & getting there

The observatory is based in Warwick, Rhode Island, on the campus of the Community College of Rhode Island in the northeastern United States.

Visiting Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory

Public open nights are generally held weekly; check CCRI's physics department website for the current schedule and any weather-related changes before visiting.

See your named star from here

Community open nights like these are a great chance to have staff point a telescope toward the coordinates of a named star. Name a star or browse the catalogue to see stars already registered.