Principia Astronomical Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
On the campus of Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, the Principia Astronomical Observatory has served students and stargazers since 1998.
About Principia Astronomical Observatory
Installed on June 18, 1998, the observatory is operated by Principia College and is described as the largest academic telescope in the region.
Telescopes & research
Its instrument is a 16-inch mirror telescope of Ritchey-Chrétien design, with an objective focal length of 4,000 mm. The mirror was ground and certified by Don Loomis, former chief optician at Kitt Peak National Laboratories, and the telescope was manufactured by Optomechanics Research. It runs on a Telescope Control System written by Dave Harvey of Comsoft Software in Tucson, Arizona.
Location & getting there
The observatory sits on the Principia College campus in Elsah, a small village on the Mississippi River in Illinois.
Visiting Principia Astronomical Observatory
As a campus facility, access is generally tied to Principia College programs and events; check with the college directly for any public viewing opportunities.
See your named star from here
A precision 16-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, ground by a former Kitt Peak optician, is exactly the kind of instrument that can be pointed at a single star's coordinates. Bring your Star Register certificate's right ascension and declination on a visit. Name a star or browse the catalogue first.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.