The Cooley Telescope
The ca. 1900 Warner and Swasey telescope
includes a nine-inch objective made by
John Brashear, one of the great opticians
of his day. The observatory dome is believed
to be the original structure that sat atop
Teachout Library, dating to 1900.
Photo by James Guilford, December 2006.

Where are we??
(Google Maps)

Historical Gallery

Observing Conditions

Stephens Memorial Observatory

Welcome to the online home of the Stephens Memorial Observatory. The observatory is a part of the Physics Department of Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio.* The observatory's current mission is historic preservation, astronomy education, and public outreach.

Want to visit? Check our schedule below for open observing nights!
Contact information.

Public nights at Stephens Memorial Observatory

The observatory offers public and private group viewing nights. See the schedule listing below. A printable version of the schedule is also posted. We usually have one scheduled open night per month with a couple of different celestial objects picked for observing each night. Other nights and non-scheduled targets of opportunity will also be offered as circumstances arise! We have, for example, opened for an unexpected cometary apparition (Comet 17P/Holmes in 2007). Check here regularly for announcements.

Public nights are conducted in "open house" fashion and attendance is free of charge. Visitors may come and go during the course of the evening though occasional special programming may require arrival at a specific time.

Attendees are asked to park on side streets or in the lot at Harrison's Hideaway Gift Shoppe, 6821 Wakefield Road, just a couple of hundred feet east of the Observatory. There is no parking at the Observatory. DO NOT drive into or park in neighboring driveways: it's inconsiderate and violators may be towed! Where are we??

Public Nights Listing, check back for changes!
This schedule is available in Adobe Acrobat format for viewing and printing! Click here.

2008 Schedule.

• Sat. Oct. 11, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM -- The Moon and the Pleiades star cluster.
  
• Sat. Nov. 15, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM -- Perseus Double Cluster.
  
• Sat. Dec. 20, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM -- Orion: The nebula and more.
  
  

2009 Schedule

• 2009 Schedule coming soon!

Note: There will be no viewing and the Observatory will not open in the event of overcast skies or inclement weather conditions occurring at the scheduled starting time.

This site will be the place to check for schedule updates: changes, cancellations, etc.

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Recent and not-so-recent history

The primary instrument of the observatory is the Cooley Telescope, ca. 1900. It is a nine-inch Warner and Swasey refractor graced with John Brashear Co. optics. Dedicated at Hiram College in 1901, it is a fine and unique example of turn of the (20th) century astronomical telescope technology being complete as manufactured. Our instrument contains and employs its original optical and drive components made by leading manufacturers of the time. Despite its age the Cooley's optics are excellent and provide impressive views of solar system and deep-sky wonders. Continued use of this instrument in astronomy is its highest and best purpose.

Hiram College would like to build a new observatory facility to allow for unobstructed views of the sky and support expanded programming for students and the community. The Cooley telescope will be moved there and modern instruments added. The College would welcome a major donor for this project -- contact us if you can help! Until then, Stephens Memorial Observatory is our home and we're delighted to see it improving.

Most recent update: 9/26/2008

* This site is privately owned and, while it presents authoritative observatory information,
it is not a publication of Hiram College.