Ohio University Observatory

Ohio University Observatory sits on a hilltop at The Ridges in Athens, Ohio, where a restored mid-century telescope now supports both classroom teaching and community stargazing nights.

About Ohio University Observatory

The current campus observatory opened in May 2017, built between the Konneker Research Laboratory and a water tower at The Ridges. It is operated by Ohio University for undergraduate teaching and public outreach.

History

Its centrepiece is a Fecker refractor telescope dating to 1950, fully restored and housed in a 22-foot-diameter Ash dome. The facility also includes a utility building and an outdoor observation pad for portable telescopes.

Telescopes & research

The 10-inch Fecker refractor anchors the observatory's work, supporting undergraduate astronomy courses as well as free public telescope nights hosted by physics and astronomy faculty.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Athens, Ohio, on Ohio University's campus at The Ridges, set on a hilltop that offers a clear view of the sky above the surrounding hills of southeastern Ohio.

Visiting Ohio University Observatory

Ohio University hosts free public telescope nights led by physics and astronomy faculty; check the university's observatory page for the current schedule before visiting.

See your named star from here

The restored Fecker refractor here is well suited to picking out a single star among thousands, exactly what's needed to find a star named through Star Register at its own coordinates. Name a star or browse the catalogue to see stars already named.