Middlebury College Observatory

Middlebury College Observatory, officially the Mittelman Observatory, crowns the roof of McCardell Bicentennial Hall on the Middlebury College campus in Vermont, giving students and the public access to the state's largest and best-equipped telescope.

About Middlebury College Observatory

Known formally as the Mittelman Observatory, this facility sits atop McCardell Bicentennial Hall and is widely regarded as the largest and best-equipped astronomical observatory in Vermont. Its main instrument is a 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with an f/8 focal ratio and a 192-inch focal length, paired with high-resolution CCD cameras (4096×4096 and 2048×2048 pixels) and a CMOS camera for imaging, plus 2-inch eyepieces for visual observing.

History

Astronomy has been taught at Middlebury since the college's founding in 1800, when it was a required course. The first campus observatory occupied the cupola of Old Chapel; a later observatory opened north of Pearsons Hall in 1937. The current Mittelman Observatory is the latest iteration of that long tradition, built to house the college's modern research-grade telescope.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, together with its CCD and CMOS cameras, supports Middlebury's astronomy coursework, student and faculty research, and public outreach programs.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on the Middlebury College campus in Vermont, on the roof of McCardell Bicentennial Hall, easily reached as part of a visit to the college.

Visiting Middlebury College Observatory

The observatory holds free public open house nights, giving visitors a chance to look through its 24-inch telescope. Check the observatory's website for current dates and conditions before you go.

See your named star from here

With a telescope this capable, staff and student astronomers can aim at almost any set of coordinates, including the right ascension and declination on a named star certificate. If you've named a star with Star Register, an open house at the Mittelman Observatory is a genuine chance to see it.