Werner Schmidt Observatory

Werner Schmidt Observatory sits on the grounds of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, and is run by a dedicated local astronomy club.

About Werner Schmidt Observatory

Werner Schmidt Observatory is operated by the Cape Cod Astronomical Society at 210 Station Ave in South Yarmouth. It gives Cape Cod residents and visitors regular, free access to serious amateur telescopes without needing their own equipment.

History

The idea for an observatory was first conceived in 1986. Werner Schmidt took over as chairman of the project in 1990, construction finally began in the fall of 2003, and the observatory was dedicated on April 30, 2004, taking his name in recognition of his role in getting it built.

Telescopes & research

The observatory houses its main instrument, a Meade LX200 GPS telescope, under a 12.5-foot Ash dome, paired with an SBIG ST-8XE CCD camera for imaging. Two additional 8-inch telescopes are also on site, giving the Cape Cod Astronomical Society flexibility for group viewing nights.

Location & getting there

South Yarmouth is on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and the observatory sits right on the high school campus, making it an easy stop for anyone already visiting the Cape.

Visiting Werner Schmidt Observatory

The Cape Cod Astronomical Society hosts free weekly star parties through the summer, with no admission fee and no reservation required, making this one of the more accessible observatories around.

See your named star from here

At a free summer star party, the Cape Cod Astronomical Society's telescopes can be aimed at almost any point in the sky. If you've named a star through Star Register, bring along its coordinates from your certificate and ask the volunteers to help you track it down. See other named stars in our catalogue.