Vassar Observatory

One very popular college observatory in the United States is the Vassar College Observatory, which is located in Poughkeepsie.

The observatory, one very important telescope of which is an 8 inch (or 20.32 centimeters) refracting telescope, is under the maintenance and supervision of the Vassar College Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Aside from the refracting telescope, the observatory also has two more important astronomical telescope instruments, the 32 inch (or 81.28 centimeters) reflecting telescope which is one of the largest reflector telescope instrument in the world and the 20 inch (or 50.8 centimeters) reflecting telescope.

If there is one person significantly associated with the Vassar observatory, she is Maria Mitchell, who is the first director of the observatory. Maria Mitchell is also known as the first female astronomer of the United States.

Vassar astronomy students are very fortunate because as early as their first year of enrolment in the course, they are already given the opportunity to use the observatory for their scientific and astronomical studies and research.

Not only is the observatory available for the college’s student. It is also open to visitors for use of its telescope. Open night is usually a Wednesday night, or Thursday if Wednesday night is not fit for viewing.