Seagrave Memorial Observatory

Seagrave Memorial Observatory is an astronomical observatory in North Scituate, Rhode Island, named for the astronomer whose telescope still anchors the site today.

About Seagrave Memorial Observatory

The observatory is wholly owned and operated by Skyscrapers, Inc., and takes its name from astronomer Frank Evans Seagrave, whose personal telescope became the heart of the collection.

History

The observatory's main instrument, an 8¼-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope, was given to Seagrave for his 16th birthday in 1876, though it took two years to build and wasn't delivered until 1878. At the time, it ranked as the third-largest telescope in New England. The telescope and the original Seagrave Observatory first stood at 119 Benefit Street in Providence before being moved to North Scituate in October 1914, when construction of the current building was completed. After Seagrave's death, Skyscrapers, Inc. acquired the observatory in 1936 and has run it ever since.

Telescopes & research

The 8¼-inch Alvan Clark refractor remains the observatory's centrepiece instrument, a well-regarded example of 19th-century American telescope-making still in active use.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in North Scituate, Rhode Island, in the North America region, a quiet setting well suited to amateur astronomy nights.

Visiting Seagrave Memorial Observatory

For current public viewing nights and event details, check the observatory's official website at theskyscrapers.org before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

A historic refractor like Seagrave's is exactly the kind of instrument that can be aimed at the coordinates on a star naming certificate, turning a gift into a real star seen through the eyepiece. Search the star catalogue to find the one named for you.