For those students enrolled in astronomy classes in the Winter of 2025, the observatory is available for your use as indicated below. To find out if the observatory is open on any given day, see the announcement in the box above. Note: The Observatory is closed during Winter Break (Feb 17-21, 2025).
The observatory is located on the roof of the Loyola Residence. Ask the Residence Desk staff to let you through the secure door - your name will be on their approved access list. Make your way to the 22nd floor and head down the hallway away from the football field. On your left there is a stairwell door - go up two flights of stairs to reach the observatory control room. Note - given there are two flights of stairs, this is not a fully physically accessible space!
You can call the observatory, only when it's open, at 902-420-5896. Dress warmly - the observatory has outdoor weather conditions - that means bring a coat, hat, and gloves!!!
ASTR 1001A or ASTR 1001B: Stars & Galaxies
You have a number of observing projects, or aspects of your project, that you can do - only some of them require you to use the observatory. One of them can use the observatory's Robotic Telescope. For projects that require you to visit the Observatory in-person (sketching an object, observing the moon, or observing the sun), read on.
The telescope assistants are astronomy graduate students Abigail, Devin, Margaret, and Fraser. They are there to help you, but not to do your observing assignment. Be familiar with what you are expected to do (i.e. read your observing assignment handout) before you arrive. To contact the BGO TAs directly, check for the email address on your project hand-out.
Nighttime Observing: The observatory is open on clear Wednesday and Thursday evenings from approximately 6:30pm (or 1/2 hour after sunset, whichever is later) to 11pm, starting the week of Jan 22 & 23 through the end of term, or until your project is due (whichever is first). To allow enough time to do your project, do not plan to arrive later than 10:15pm - in fact, the observatory may close if no students are present at 10:15pm. It is not open during Fall Break week. Also be aware that if you intend to observe the Moon, it is not visible every evening.
Solar Observing: The observatory is open on clear Wednesdays and Thursdays during a specific time of day to allow for solar observing. Solar observing will start the week of January 29-30 and will continue through the end of term, or until your project is due.
ASTR 1100: Introduction to Astrophysics
Your observing project guidelines are provided by Dr. Ivana Damjanov. To learn how to become authorized or use the robotic interface, see the Getting Started webpage or the Basic Commands webpage. I encourage you to browse the website for additional information!