Taunton observatory

Taunton observatory is the historic astronomical facility at B.M.C. Durfee High School, near Fall River and Taunton, Massachusetts.

About Taunton observatory

The observatory occupies a distinctive red-domed tower on the historic Durfee High School building, and is best known for housing a Warner & Swasey telescope originally built in 1887 with an 8-inch lens.

History

For decades the historic instrument and its dome sat largely idle. A restoration effort began in 2009 to bring the telescope and observatory back into working order, and public viewing sessions resumed in 2015 after the project's completion.

Telescopes & research

The centrepiece instrument is the Warner & Swasey refracting telescope dating to 1887, a piece of 19th-century optical engineering preserved within the school's landmark tower.

Location & getting there

The observatory is part of the Durfee High School campus in the Fall River and Taunton area of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States, easily reached as part of a visit to the historic school building itself.

Visiting Taunton observatory

Public viewing nights have taken place since the 2015 reopening; anyone hoping to see the historic telescope in action should check with Durfee High School or local astronomy groups for current session dates before visiting.

See your named star from here

An 1887 telescope restored for a new generation is a fitting instrument for tracking down a named star. Once you know your star's coordinates, a telescope like this one can be pointed straight at it on a clear Massachusetts night. See the star catalogue or name a star today.