St. Thomas Observatory

St. Thomas Observatory sits atop a parking structure on the University of St. Thomas campus in St. Paul, Minnesota, putting a fully robotic telescope within easy reach of students and the public alike.

About St. Thomas Observatory

Run by the University of St. Thomas' Department of Physics, the observatory houses an automated dome and a fully robotic 17-inch (0.43 m) corrected Dall-Kirkham reflecting telescope paired with a 10.7-megapixel CCD camera. The unusual setting - the roof of the Anderson Parking Facility on the university's main campus - gives it a clear, elevated view for a city-based facility.

Telescopes & research

The robotic telescope and CCD camera combination supports student research projects in the physics department, letting undergraduates capture and analyse real astronomical data. The same equipment is put to use for public observing events, opening the sky up to visitors beyond the university.

Location & getting there

The observatory is on the University of St. Thomas' main campus in St. Paul, Minnesota, part of our North America region listings, easily reached as part of a visit to the Twin Cities.

Visiting St. Thomas Observatory

The observatory hosts public observing events, typically for groups ranging from around 10 to 100 people. Check the Department of Physics' current schedule before planning a visit, as sessions depend on both the academic calendar and clear skies.

See your named star from here

With a working robotic telescope on site, St. Thomas Observatory is a genuinely practical place to try to find a star named through star-register.eu. Browse the star catalogue or choose a naming package to get your star's coordinates, then ask about pointing the observatory's telescope its way at a public event.