Observatory
The Wheaton College Department of Physics and Astronomy maintains a astronomical observatory located on the roof of the Science Center Building. It currently consist of a number of telescopes including six 12-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain reflectors, two 14-inch Meade LX200R telescopes, a 14-inch Meade LX200GPS telescope and a Centurion Dobsonian. Many of our telescopes are equipped with CCD cameras and are remotely controlled from computer terminals within the department.
OPEN NIGHTS
The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosts viewing nights on most Friday evenings at the observatory which are open to both the public and students on campus. Activities include an astronomical slideshow and lecture, a visit to our Starlab Planetarium and rooftop viewing on clear nights through a number of our large aperature telescopes.
More details on specific Open Nights and updated weather conditions can found at Observatory Open Nights.
Please contact Tony Houser at phone 508-286-3979 for further information and to make arrangements for your group to attend. houser_anthony@wheatoncollege.edu
GROUPS
The Observatory welcomes pre-scheduled small groups to visit our facilities on public viewing nights. For safety reasons, we are unable to accommodate groups over 25 at any one time, but we are happy to split larger groups for multiple visits. We ask that all groups larger than 10 arrange their visits to the observatory so that we can manage the number of visitors to our program.
Friday Observatory Open Nights
Tony Houser hosts Friday night sky viewings in the observatory free to students and the public
Wheaton's 12" telescope "down under"
Professor of Astronomy Tim Barkers' students peer at the Southern Skies