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Vatican Observatory ( Even though this one is not in New England, I listed it anyway )
Is anybody as curious as I am why the Vatican is searching the skies? Are they expecting somebody or something soooooon?
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Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope The Vatican Observatory Research Group (VORG) operates the 1.8m Alice P. Lennon Telescope with its Thomas J. Bannan Astrophysics Facility, known together as the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), at the Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO) in southeastern Arizona. The sky conditions there are among the best in the world and certainly the Continental United States. Both observing time and responsibility for VATT are shared with the University of Arizona on a 75% VORG, 25% Arizona basis. Limited resources prevent VATT from being a visitor observatory, but collaborations are welcomed by VORG, especially when suitable instrumentation is provided for shared use at VATT. |
* * * * * * * The New England based observatories are listed below. * * * * * * *
Some observatories are at times open for public viewing, however, please call the particular facility in advance to check on current availability status.
The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), New Hampshire
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory The National Science Foundation's VLBA is a system of ten identical radio-telescope antennas controlled from a common headquarters and working together as a single instrument. The radio signals received by each individual antenna contribute part of the information used to produce images of celestial objects with hundreds of times more detail than Hubble Space Telescope images. One of these radio telescopes are located in Hancock, New Hampshire. The Hancock site is called Windy Row and is just a big dish sitting fairly out in the open North - North-west of Peterborough NH. It is pretty easy to get to. It is fenced in however, and do not believe it is manned or that there is public access. ( Thanks sent to Roadrat for giving a heads up to this site in New Haampshire ) |
Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society Observatory, Connecticut
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Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society Observatory In 1957 the observatory was completed by society members on the site in Boothe Park, where it stands today. The telescope, known as the Big Eye, was completed in 1960. It is located at Boothe Memorial Park Main Street, Putney in Stratford, CT 06615. For information on this Astronomical Society call Telephone: (203)375-9673 or visit their great website at http://www.bmas.org |
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16" Cassegrain Telescope and 4" Unitron Refractor Telescope |
Harvard College Observatory, Massachusetts
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9" Clark Telescope The Harvard College Observatory carries on a broad program of research in astronomy and astrophysics. It is located at 60 Garden Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. Check for scheduled open nights to the public. |
Haystack Observatory complex, Massachusetts
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Haystack Radio Observatory Complex The Haystack Observatory operated by MIT is the principal facility of the Northeast Radio Observatory Corporation. As you can see, the Millstone Hill complex is a very impressive site. It is located off of Route 40 in Westford, Massachusetts. Visitors should call ahead to check for availability to the public by calling 781-981-5407 or 978-692-4764. |
Loomis-Michael Observatory, Massachusetts
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10" Refractor Telescope |
Oak Ridge Observatory, Massachusetts
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The Oak Ridge Observatory The Oak Ridge Observatory is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, part of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics of Cambridge, Mass. The observatory, however, is located in Harvard, Massachusetts. |
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61" Wyeth Reflector Telescope |
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84' Radio Telescope |
UMass Dartmouth Observatory, Massachusetts
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UMass Dartmouth Observatory The UMass Dartmouth Observatory is a centerpiece of the Physics Dept.'s astronomy education program. It is located in a field just west of the campus entrance of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Rd., North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300. It is used for student programs. Check for the availability of public viewing. Supplementary telescopes include: a Celestron 8" Schmidt - Cassegrain Reflector Telescope, (2) Celestron 4.5" Newtonian Reflector Telescopes, and a Coulter Optical 10" Dobsonian Reflector Telescope. |
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Celestron 14" Schmidt - Cassegrain Reflector Telescope |
UMass Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, Massachusetts
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Radio Telescope Dome The FCRAO was founded in 1969 by UMass, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College. The Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory operates the 14 meter radio telescope located in New Salem, Massachusetts. It has played a leading role in the study of the molecular interstellar medium, in the development of leading edge technologies and in providing a valuable educational resource for graduate and undergraduate students from institutions throughout the world. Check for any scheduled open nights to the public. |
Weston Observatory, Massachusetts
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Weston Observatory The Weston Observatory is is a geophysical research laboratory of the Dept. of Geology and Geophysics at Boston College (seismology, earthquakes). It is located at 381 Concord Road in Weston, Massachusetts 02493. This one was listed in the event the ground starts shaking while you are sky watching. |
Whately Observatory, Massachusetts
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Whately Observatory The Whately Observatory is a laboratory for Infrared Astronomy of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It is located in the hills above Whately, Massachusetts. It is used for student research. |
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0.4 m 16" Boller and Chivens Reflector Telescope |
Whitin Observatory, Massachusetts
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The
Whitin Observatory The Whitin Observatory is operated by Wellesley College. The observatory is located on the campus of Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It is used for both student training and public observing. |
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6" Alvan Clark Refractor Telescope (used for both student observing and public nights) |
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12" Alvan Clark Refractor Telescope (also used for both student observing and public nights) |
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24" Boller and Chivens Reflector Telescope Used for training students in CCD imaging and astronomical spectroscopy. |
A full New England listing of observatories are shown below.
( compiled by various sources listed on the internet )
Connecticut
Avon
Talcott Mountain Science Center, Montevideo Road, 06001, (203) 677-8571
Danbury
Western Connecticut State University, 181 White Street, 06810, (203) 797-4218
Western Connecticut State University Observatory & Planetarium, 181 White St., 06810,
(203) 797-4215
Middletown
Van Vleck Observatory, Wesleyan University, 06459-0123, (203) 685-3672
New Britain
Copernican Observatory and Planetarium, Central Connecticut State University, Wells
Street,
06050, (203) 827-7852
Stamford
Stamford Observatory, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford, CT.
They have a 22" Maksutov
Stratford
Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society Observatory
Boothe Memorial Park
Main Street, Putney
Stratford, CT 06615
Telephone: (203)375-9673
http://www.bmas.org
Westport
Rolnick Observatory, 182 Bayberry Ln., 06880-2802, (203) 227-0925
Maine
Castine
Maine Maritime Academy, 04420, (207) 326-4311
Easton
Francis Malcolm Science Institute, P.O. Box 186, U.S. Route 1-A, 04740
(207) 488-5451
Massachusetts
Amherst
Bassett Planetarium and Wilder Observatory, Amherst College, Dept. of Astronomy, 01002,
(413) 542-2138
Five College Radio Observatory, University of Massachusetts, 01002, (413) 545-2194
Orchard Hill Observatory, University of Massachusetts, 01002, (413) 545-0111
Boston
Boston University, Dept. of Astronomy, 725 Commonwealth Ave., 02215
(617) 353-5700
Cambridge
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, 02138, (617) 495-7461
Wallace Astrophysical Observatory, MIT, Building 54-410, 02139, (617) 253-9317
Fall River
B.M.C. Durfee High Planetarium/Observatory, 314 June Street, 02720,
(508) 675-8171
Nantucket
Maria Mitchell Association, 2 Vestal Street, 02554, (508) 228-9273
Norton
Wheaton College Observatory, 02766, (508) 286-3975
Wenham
Woodside Planetarium and Observatory, 13 Friend Court, 01984, (508) 468-4815
Westford
Haystack Observatory, Route 40, 01886, (508) 692-4764
Williamstown
Hopkins Observatory/Milham Planetarium, Williams College, Main Street, 01267,
(413) 597-2482
New Hampshire
Durham
University of New Hampshire Observatory, Dept. of Physics, Demeritt Hall U03824,
(603) 862-1950
Hanover
Shattuck Observatory, Dartmouth College, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Wilder Hall,
03755, (603) 646-2034
Rhode Island
Charlestown
Frosty Drew Observatory, Ninigret Park, P.O. Box 160, 02813, (401) 364-9508
Providence
Ladd Observatory, 210 Doyle Ave., 02906, (401) 863-2314
Warwick
CCRI Observatory, Community College of Rhode Island, 400 East Ave., 02886,
(401) 825-2207
Vermont
Williston
Green Mountain Observatory, Vermont Astronomical Society, P.O. Box 782, 05495,
(802) 985-3269
Email Theskywatcher with suggestions/comments or locations to other New England observatories.
