Perkins Observatory

In Delaware, Ohio, Perkins Observatory once held one of the largest telescopes on Earth, and though that instrument has since moved on, the observatory remains a busy hub for public astronomy in central Ohio.

About Perkins Observatory

Perkins Observatory is owned and operated by Ohio Wesleyan University. When its 69-inch aperture Perkins telescope came online in 1931, it was the third largest telescope in the world, and its mirror, cast by the United States National Bureau of Standards, was the largest cast in the country up to that time.

History

In the 1930s the observatory launched a periodic publication called The Telescope, sharing results from the big telescope alongside broader astronomical news. In 1935, Ohio Wesleyan partnered with Ohio State University to help operate the telescope, a collaboration that lasted for almost seven decades. In the 1960s, the 69-inch telescope itself was relocated to Arizona for better viewing conditions and fitted with a new, larger mirror, but Perkins Observatory in Ohio continued on as a hub of local astronomical activity.

Telescopes & research

Today the observatory supports a range of public and academic astronomy activities, and it serves as a community source of information such as near-Earth object flybys.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Delaware, Ohio, on Ohio Wesleyan University's grounds, making it an accessible destination for visitors from across central Ohio.

Visiting Perkins Observatory

Perkins Observatory runs public programs; check Ohio Wesleyan University's website for current session times and event details before visiting.

See your named star from here

Perkins Observatory has spent nearly a century pointing telescopes at precise coordinates in the sky. When you name a star with Star Register, you get those same kinds of coordinates for a star of your own. Browse the catalogue to see stars already named.