Three College Observatory

Tucked into the Cane Creek Mountains about 10 kilometres south of Graham, North Carolina, Three College Observatory is a working research and teaching facility shared by three institutions.

About Three College Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated jointly by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Guilford College, serving instruction and public outreach for all three schools.

History

Built in 1979 to a design by W. Edward Jenkins, the observatory was funded by a $250,000 grant; replacing it today would cost an estimated $1.5 million.

Telescopes & research

Its primary instrument is a 32-inch (81 cm) Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope on an equatorial mount, built by Sigma Research and installed in 1981. It remains the largest telescope in North Carolina and one of the largest in the southeastern United States.

Location & getting there

The site sits in the Cane Creek Mountains of North Carolina, a rural, elevated setting chosen to keep skies dark for observation.

Visiting Three College Observatory

The observatory primarily supports UNCG instruction and outreach programs; check with the university for current public viewing nights or tour arrangements before visiting.

See your named star from here

With North Carolina's largest telescope on site, staff here are well equipped to point toward any set of celestial coordinates, including those of a named star. Name a star of your own, or browse the star catalogue first.