Maryland Space Grant Consortium Observatory

The Maryland Space Grant Consortium Observatory sits on the rooftop of the Physics & Astronomy building at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland - and it opens its doors to the public for free.

About the Maryland Space Grant Consortium Observatory

The observatory is housed under the Stanley D. and Joan F. Greenblatt Dome at the university's Bloomberg Center, on the roof of the Physics & Astronomy building. Its mission is to support hands-on learning and public engagement in space science and engineering, and a Graduate Observatory Fellow trains students to run its operations.

Telescopes & research

The primary instrument is the Morris W. Offit Telescope, with a 20-inch diameter mirror, mounted beneath the Greenblatt Dome.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the Johns Hopkins University campus. Use the map on this page for exact coordinates and directions.

Visiting the Maryland Space Grant Consortium Observatory

The observatory holds free public open houses on Friday evenings, weather permitting. Check the Maryland Space Grant Consortium or Johns Hopkins Physics & Astronomy websites for the current schedule before visiting.

See your named star from here

A 20-inch telescope like the Morris W. Offit is well equipped to find a single point in the sky from its coordinates. The right ascension and declination on a Star Register certificate mark exactly that kind of fixed point, waiting to be found on a Friday night open house. Name a star or browse the star catalogue to find yours.