Wartburg College Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Wartburg College Observatory, also known as Platte Observatory, is the teaching observatory of Wartburg College, a private liberal arts college in Waverly, Iowa.
About Wartburg College Observatory
The observatory sits near the college's outdoor soccer and football practice fields and supports both introductory astronomy classes and upper-level astrophysics coursework and research. It is owned and operated by Wartburg College itself.
Telescopes & research
The observatory's equipment includes five Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, an 18-inch Newtonian reflector and a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, giving students a range of instruments to learn on for coursework and independent projects.
Location & getting there
The observatory is located in Waverly, Iowa, on the Wartburg College campus, in the rolling farmland of northeastern Iowa.
Visiting Wartburg College Observatory
As a campus teaching facility, public access typically runs through the college's own astronomy department and any scheduled open nights. Check with Wartburg College directly before planning a visit.
See your named star from here
With a bank of telescopes built for real coursework, Wartburg College Observatory is a genuine place to put a set of star coordinates to the test. Explore our naming packages or browse the star catalogue to find a star to look for.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
