Sheep Hill Observatory

Sheep Hill Observatory sits in Morris County, New Jersey, where it has welcomed stargazers to look through its telescope since 1973.

About Sheep Hill Observatory

Sheep Hill Observatory is an astronomical observatory built around an 18-inch BBC Newtonian reflecting telescope. It's a working amateur facility that opens its dome to the public on a regular schedule, and it's also made available to schools, Scouting groups, and other educational organizations on request.

History

The observatory was established in 1973 and has continued operating as a community astronomy resource in Morris County ever since.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's main instrument is an 18-inch BBC Newtonian reflector, a substantial aperture for an amateur site that gives visitors a genuinely detailed view of planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects.

Location & getting there

Sheep Hill Observatory is located in Morris County, New Jersey, in the North America region. The wider county sits within easy reach of the New York metropolitan area, so it's worth checking traffic and light conditions before an evening visit.

Visiting Sheep Hill Observatory

The observatory is open to the public on the third Friday evening of each month, weather permitting. It's also available to schools, Scouting groups, and other educational groups upon request, making it a popular stop for local astronomy education.

See your named star from here

With its 18-inch reflector, Sheep Hill Observatory has the reach to help pick out fainter stars, including the coordinates tied to a named star. Name a star and look it up in the catalogue before your next visit.