United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy occupies a historic campus in Annapolis, Maryland, where the Severn River meets Chesapeake Bay. It is best known as a federal service academy rather than a dedicated astronomical observatory, but its grounds and clear coastal skies make it a notable spot on our map.

About United States Naval Academy

Established on 10 October 1845, the Naval Academy is the second oldest of the United States' five federal service academies. It educates midshipmen for commissioning as officers in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, granting a Bachelor of Science degree alongside military training and mandatory athletics.

History

The Academy replaced the earlier Philadelphia Naval Asylum, which had served as the first U.S. Naval Academy from 1838 to 1845, before the institution moved to Annapolis. Its 338-acre campus, known as the Yard, sits on the former grounds of Fort Severn and is today a National Historic Landmark, home to many historic buildings and monuments.

Location & getting there

The Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland, about 33 miles east of Washington, D.C. and 26 miles southeast of Baltimore, at the point where the Severn River flows into Chesapeake Bay.

Visiting United States Naval Academy

Around 1,200 new midshipmen enter each summer and roughly 1,000 graduate and commission each year, so the campus is very much a working military institution. Because visiting arrangements for the public can change, check the Academy's official website or call ahead before planning a trip to the Yard.

See your named star from here

Wherever you're standing along Chesapeake Bay, the same night sky stretches overhead, and a named star's coordinates can be found from any location with a telescope. If you'd like to name a star of your own, see our packages or browse the star catalogue.