Mount Belleview Observatory

Bellevue Observatory is a public astronomy site in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, at the west end of Montreal, Quebec, run by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Montreal Centre together with McGill University.

About Bellevue Observatory

The observatory opened with an official ribbon-cutting on October 23, 2012, and stands within McGill University's Morgan Arboretum. It holds the distinction of being the first, and so far only, public-access astronomical observatory on the island of Montreal, benefiting from the darkest skies the island has to offer.

Telescopes & research

Its primary instrument is a 14-inch robotic, research-grade Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, donated by comet discoverer Dr. David Levy. The site also provides space for members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Montreal Centre to set up their own personal equipment.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits within the Morgan Arboretum at the western tip of the island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada, chosen specifically for having the darkest night skies still available on the island.

Visiting Bellevue Observatory

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Montreal Centre holds both public and members-only events at Bellevue Observatory. Check the RASC Montreal Centre's website for the current schedule before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

A robotic telescope like Bellevue's can be pointed at any set of sky coordinates, including the exact right ascension and declination of a Star Register named star. Name a star for someone special and look up its position in the catalogue before your next visit to the darkest corner of Montreal's sky.