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Wesleyan’s Van Vleck Observatory sits on a green lawn under a clear blue sky.
Wesleyan’s Van Vleck Observatory sits on a green lawn under a clear blue sky.

Van Vleck Observatory

Van Vleck Observatory has merged scientific education with meaningful research for more than a century. Professional-quality facilities, telescopes, and community outreach empower students, faculty, and visitors to engage in science communication, share knowledge, and inspire interest in astronomy.

Observatory at a Glance

  • 1916 Year established

  • Dozens of annual public events

  • 100s of engaged visitors in outreach programs each year

Telescopes

Our four observatory telescopes include a 20-inch refractor that’s more than 100 years old, two 24-inch reflectors, and a 2.4-meter radio telescope. The telescopes are capable of imaging celestial objects millions of light-years away, aiding in student and faculty research and public education.

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  • Two people stand beside the 20-inch Alvan Clark Great Refractor telescope inside the Van Vleck dome.

    The 20-inch Alvan Clark Great Refractor has a focal length of 27 feet 6 inches. The refractor underwent extensive restoration in 2014-15 and is now used for outreach and student observing.

  • A student peers through the 24-inch PlaneWave telescope, surrounded by wires and observing equipment.

    The 24-inch PlaneWave conducts queue-based observations and provides a local analog to the world's largest telescopes. It features an instrument selector with a CCD and filter wheel, observing eyepiece, and planetary imaging high-speed camera.

  • A large mesh radio dish built by students points skyward on a cloudy day, surrounded by trees.

    Built by Wesleyan students based on Small Radio Telescope (SRT) designs developed at Haystack Observatory, the 2.4-meter Radio Telescope is used to study the motions of neutral hydrogen gas in the Milky Way and radio-wavelength emission from the Sun.

  • A student looks through a small solar telescope while another person assists during a public observing session.

    Equipped with portable tripods, portable telescopes share views of the sky with students and local Middletown residents. Our suite includes a 10-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain, and solar telescopes for daytime use.

  • Close-up of the 24-inch Perkin Telescope with its blue mount and attached instrumentation.

    Used for teaching, the 24-inch Perkin has a primary mirror 24 inches in diameter with 27-foot focal length, a CCD camera, and an autoglider. It was automated and equipped by Perkin Fund, Research Corporation, and National Science Foundation grants.

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Observatory Features

The observatory features world-class resources for students, faculty, and visitors alike. Students use the telescopes for coursework and research, gaining experience in data collection, analysis, and instrument operation, and developing essential skills for future academic and professional pursuits.

Research Library and History Museum

Browse thousands of historic monographs, catalogs, charts, magazines, Under Connecticut Skies exhibition, and more.

Portable Planetarium

Our Digitalis and STARLAB portable planetariums provide immersive teaching tools for classes and educational programs.

Vintage sepia-toned photo of the Van Vleck Observatory covered in ivy

Humble Beginnings

Van Vleck Observatory, 1930s

Joseph Van Vleck gave $25,000 to fund the new Van Vleck Observatory in 1903. After good investments and more Van Vleck family gifts, ground broke in 1914.

Our History

A defining Astronomy Department feature, the observatory blends historical significance with modern research. Prof. Augustus Smith taught Wesleyan's first astronomy course and led the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy in 1843. The observatory was named for his successor, Prof. John Van Vleck.

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Visit Us

Van Vleck Observatory

96 Foss Hill Dr.
Middletown, CT 06459

Events Information

Stef Dinneen
860-685-2130
astronomy@wesleyan.edu

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