Naylor Observatory

Tucked into the countryside near Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, Naylor Observatory has been the home base of the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg since the 1960s, giving local stargazers a dark-sky spot away from city lights.

About Naylor Observatory

The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, established in 1955, acquired the observatory's property in 1966 and completed its first dome, known as the French Dome, in 1967. The site has grown steadily since, with major expansions through the 1980s to the 2010s adding new instruments and facilities for members and the public.

Telescopes & research

Naylor Observatory's French Dome houses a 17-inch f/15 classical Cassegrain reflector, while the King roll-off roof observatory holds a pair of 14-inch f/10 Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. The site also has a 10-inch f/7 Ritchey-Chrétien Cassegrain, an 80mm f/6 refractor, several Dobsonian telescopes and a dedicated solar telescope using hydrogen-alpha filtering, giving visitors a wide range of ways to observe both night and day skies.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits near Lewisberry in south-central Pennsylvania, within reach of Harrisburg, in a rural setting chosen for darker skies than the surrounding towns.

Visiting Naylor Observatory

The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg hosts public observing sessions and events at Naylor Observatory; check the society's website for the current schedule, as sessions depend on weather and moon phase.

See your named star from here

With this many telescopes on site, Naylor Observatory is a great place to actually find the star you've named. A Star Register certificate comes with precise coordinates that any of these instruments can be pointed at. Browse the star catalogue or choose a naming package to get started.