Observatories are home to some of the biggest and most impressive telescopes in the world. As many amateur astronomers know, there are numerous ways to experience the night sky beyond looking through a telescope in your own backyard. Florida has an impressive number of observatories that offer a wide variety of star parties, tours, and observatory programs that will expand your knowledge of astronomy and your love of the night sky, whether you are new to astronomy or have been in the hobby for years.
For your convenience, we have compiled an alphabetical list of observatories in Florida that offer programs for the public.
Disclaimer: This information was collected from the observatories’ websites in February 2022. Some information may be subject to change if the websites are updated. If interested in visiting one of the listed observatories, please contact the observatory for the latest information before you visit.
Fox Astronomical Observatory
Markham Park Rd, Sunrise, FL 3326 - 954-384-0422
Joseph Dennison Fox worked as a Professor of Astronomy and History at the University of Puerto Rico before retiring to North Miami and joining the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association Inc. The observatory, named the Fox Astronomical Observatory, was dedicated on March 20th, 1977.
Image Credit: South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association & The Fox Observatory
Telescopes
The Fox Observatory is home to the 6” f/15 Brandon Refractor Telescope donated by Dr. Fox, a 14” Schmidt-Cassegrain, and several Dobsonian reflecting telescopes.
Visiting
The observatory is open to the public every Saturday night, rain or shine. It opens around dusk and will generally close around midnight. While the observatory is closed for renovations, the observatory’s telescopes will not be available for Saturday night viewing. Member-owned telescopes, however, will be set up on the property and available on these Saturday nights, if the weather allows.
James & Barbara Moore Observatory
26300 Airport Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 - 941-637-3518
The James & Barbara Moore Observatory, also known as the Charlotte Campus Observatory is located in Punta Gorda, Florida on the Florida Southwestern State College’s Charlotte Campus.
Image Credit: Florida SouthWestern College
Visiting
Public observation sessions are free and held once a month from September through May. The sessions begin 30 to 45 minutes after dark. The observatory may also open for special celestial events.
Robinson Observatory
4-74 Ara Dr, Orlando, FL 32826 - 407-823-2325
The Robinson Observatory is run by the faculty and students of the Planetary Sciences Group and the Astronomy Society in the Department of Physics. It is located in Orlando, Florida.
Telescope
The primary telescope at the Robinson Observatory is a 20” f/8.2 RCOS Ritchey-Chrétien telescope.
Visiting
The Robinson Observatory offers a public program called “Knights Under the Stars.” There is no admission fee, registration, or reservation needed (unless a group of more than twenty-five people is coming). Interested visitors should check the schedule for upcoming “Knights Under the Stars” events. Girl and boy scout groups can also contact the observatory for guided tours.
University of Florida Observatory
32611 Sweetwater Drive, Gainesville, FL 32603
The Department of Astronomy at the University of Florida runs a Teaching Observatory catered to the public and the educational community. It was established in 1956 and by the late 1960s, the Teaching Observatory was moved south of the Reitz Union building on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida.
Image Credit: South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association & The Fox Observatory
Telescope
The telescopes that are housed in the University of Florida Teaching Observatory are the historic Clark 8” Refractor by Alvan Clark & Sons, a 12.5” Cassegrain Reflector, an Army Map Service equipped with a photoelectric photometer, a 12” Schmidt-Cassegrain by Meade on a movable tripod, six 8” Schmidt-Cassegrains by Meade, and four 5” Schmidt-Cassegrains by Celestron. The accessories it houses are three pairs of binoculars, solar, lunar, color, polarizing, and light pollution filters, a variety of eyepieces, a computer with astronomical and multimedia presentation software, and astronomical maps, atlases, calendars, reference books, and other observation aids.
Visiting
The observatory is open Friday nights, from 8:30 pm to 10 pm during UF academic sessions. All activities are free to the public, and visitors will get a chance to observe through the 8”, 12”, and 14” Cassegrain telescopes as well as the historic 8” Alvan Clark refractor. There will also be presentations and demonstrations on images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (and other space crafts) and various astronomical topics.
Interested in finding an observatory or planetarium in your state? Check out our Astronomy Hub!
This Article was Last Updated on 07/27/2023
