Stellafane Observatory

Perched on Breezy Hill above Springfield, Vermont, Stellafane Observatory is one of the most historically significant sites in American amateur astronomy.

About Stellafane Observatory

Stellafane is the clubhouse and observation site of the Springfield Telescope Makers, an amateur astronomy club whose grounds have become a pilgrimage point for telescope builders across the United States. The name, coined by founder Russell W. Porter, comes from the Latin stella and fanum — "Shrine to the Stars."

History

The observatory was founded in 1920 by optician and Arctic explorer Russell W. Porter, and the club's Pink Clubhouse followed in 1923. Since 1926, Stellafane has hosted the Stellafane Convention almost every year, making it the longest-running astronomical convention in the United States. In recognition of its role in popularising astronomy and amateur telescope making, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

Location & getting there

Stellafane sits atop Breezy Hill, just west of downtown Springfield, Vermont, in the state's rural southeast. The hilltop setting has long given club members and convention visitors reasonably dark skies away from town lights.

Visiting Stellafane

The site is best known for the annual Stellafane Convention, when amateur telescope makers and astronomers gather for talks, competitions and stargazing. Outside convention dates, visiting arrangements are set by the Springfield Telescope Makers, so it's worth checking the observatory's own website for current access and event information before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

Wherever you view the sky from, a star's coordinates stay the same — so a star named through Star Register can be sought out from a hilltop as storied as Stellafane. Explore the star catalogue to find where your own star sits.