Melton Memorial Observatory

Melton Memorial Observatory has stood on the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia since the late 1920s, a long-serving home for student and public astronomy.

About Melton Memorial Observatory

Melton Memorial Observatory is owned and operated by the University of South Carolina. It was built in 1928 and named in honour of William Davis Melton, a former president of the university, tying the observatory's history directly to the institution's own.

History

Nearly a century old, the observatory has been part of the university's Columbia campus since 1928, making it one of the longer-running astronomical facilities in South Carolina.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia, South Carolina, easily reached as part of a visit to the university grounds.

Visiting Melton Memorial Observatory

Public viewing nights and programme details are managed by the university's Department of Physics and Astronomy. Checking the official observatory page before visiting is the best way to confirm current opening times.

See your named star from here

The observatory's telescope can be pointed at any coordinates in the night sky, including those of a star named through Star Register. Find your star's exact position in the catalogue and bring it along to a public session at Melton Memorial Observatory.