Mehalso Observatory

Mehalso Observatory sits behind the Otto Behrend Science Building at Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pennsylvania, where it has welcomed both students and the public to look through its telescopes since 2001.

About Mehalso Observatory

The observatory was made possible by a gift from Dr. Robert Mehalso and his wife Elizabeth, and it is owned and operated by Penn State Erie (Penn State Behrend). It was dedicated in 2001 and supports both astronomy education and student research on campus.

Telescopes & research

The main dome houses a 16-inch Meade telescope with computer control and a CCD camera, housed in a 14-foot diameter Ash dome. A second dome on site holds a 12-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Meade telescope, giving the observatory two capable instruments for observation and imaging.

Location & getting there

Mehalso Observatory is located on the Penn State Behrend campus in Erie, Pennsylvania, just behind the Otto Behrend Science Building.

Visiting Mehalso Observatory

The observatory hosts astronomy open houses featuring non-technical presentations alongside telescope viewing, open to the campus community and the public. Check Penn State Behrend's website for current open house dates before visiting.

See your named star from here

With two computer-controlled telescopes able to be pointed anywhere in the sky, Mehalso Observatory's open houses are a fitting place to look for a named star using the coordinates listed in the star catalogue.