Underwood observatory

Underwood Observatory was a historic astronomical facility in the United States, remembered today chiefly for the fine telescope it once housed rather than for a building that still stands.

About Underwood Observatory

The observatory's main instrument was a refracting telescope built by Alvan Clark & Sons of Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the most respected telescope-making firms of the 19th century. The observatory building itself is no longer standing, and it is now remembered mainly through archival and historical records rather than as an active site.

Location & getting there

The observatory was located in the United States, in a setting typical of small academic and community observatories of its era, built to give a fixed home to a prized telescope. As the structure no longer exists, there is no on-site facility to visit today.

Visiting Underwood Observatory

Because the original building no longer stands, there is nothing to tour on site. Local historical archives and libraries hold photographs and records of the observatory and its telescope for anyone curious about its history.

See your named star from here

A historic observatory like this one is a reminder that stargazing only ever needed a telescope and a clear patch of sky, not a grand building. Wherever you are, a named star's coordinates can be found and viewed. Choose a star of your own from our packages or browse the full catalogue.