McMillin Observatory

McMillin Observatory once stood on the campus of Ohio State University, serving as the university's astronomy hub for more than seventy years before its eventual closure and demolition.

About McMillin Observatory

The observatory was built around 1895 and formally opened on June 16, 1896. It was named after Emerson McMillin and operated directly by Ohio State University, led by Professor Henry C. Lord, with a dual focus on education and scientific research.

History

At its debut, McMillin Observatory's 12.5-inch refractor was the largest telescope in Ohio. The observatory eventually closed in 1968 after its dome shutters were declared unsafe, and the building itself was razed in 1976. Its refractor telescope was later moved into storage; the university's astronomy program continued at the newer Perkins Observatory in Delaware, Ohio.

Telescopes & research

Beyond its main refractor, the observatory was equipped with photographic cameras, a filar micrometer, and a custom Brashear spectroscope, supporting both classroom instruction and original astronomical research during its active decades.

Location & getting there

McMillin Observatory stood on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio; the original building no longer exists, though its history is documented by the university's astronomy department.

See your named star from here

Although the original McMillin Observatory building is gone, the tradition of astronomy it started at Ohio State continues at Perkins Observatory. Anywhere a telescope can be aimed at the night sky, staff can find a named star using the coordinates listed in the star catalogue.