York University Observatory

In the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory, better known simply as York University Observatory, has been putting telescopes in front of the public since 1969. It remains one of Canada's most active university observatories.

About York University Observatory

Owned and operated by York University, the observatory opened in 1969 and was renamed in 2017 in honour of York physics professor emeritus Allan Carswell. It serves both professional researchers and amateur astronomers, and is one of the few Canadian university observatories that regularly welcomes the public.

History

The observatory has operated continuously since 1969, growing from its original site at the university's Petrie building to include a second facility, the Arboretum Observing Facility, built on the roof of the Arboretum Parking Garage. The 2017 renaming recognised Allan Carswell's decades of contribution to physics and public astronomy education at York.

Telescopes & research

Two main telescopes are housed in separate domes: a 60 cm Cassegrain reflector and a 1 metre custom-built reflector, the largest telescope at any Canadian university. The observatory's former 40 cm Cassegrain, long used for public outreach, was replaced by the 1 metre instrument in August 2019 and moved to the Arboretum Observing Facility, where it continues to be used alongside several smaller portable telescopes for visitor use.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, within easy reach of the rest of the city. Like its neighbour the David Dunlap Observatory, it contends with light pollution from nearby campus and business lighting, though its location away from residential streets helps.

Visiting York University Observatory

The observatory opens to the public every Wednesday evening, free of charge, and hosts extra viewing sessions for events such as Astronomy Day and Science Rendezvous. Full current details, including any schedule changes, are best confirmed on the observatory's official website before you go.

See your named star from here

With two of the largest telescopes at any Canadian university on site, York University Observatory is well equipped to find a star at almost any set of coordinates. A star named through Star Register comes with exact position data that staff or visiting astronomers here could use to locate it; browse the star catalogue to explore the options.