Image Credit: Cherry Grove Observatory
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. Minnesota has impressive 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 Minnesota that offer programs for the public.
Disclaimer: This information was collected from the observatories’ websites in January 2026. 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.
Cherry Grove Observatory
The roll-off roof Cherry Grove Observatory was completed in 2013. Located in Goodhue County, Minnesota, the observatory was founded by the Minnesota Astronomical Society and gave amateur and experienced astronomers a chance to view the night sky.
Telescopes
The Cherry Grove Observatory is home to a 12” Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain on a Mathis Instruments MI-500 German Equatorial mount, a 16” Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain, a 24” B.A.D. Starmaster Dobsonian, an 8” Zhumell telescope, and a 10” Meade Starfinder telescope.
Visiting
The Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS) hosts Star Parties at the Cherry Grove Observatory on Friday nights or Saturday nights if Friday nights are too cloudy. The site is available to MAS members twenty-four hours a day. A schedule of events for the Cherry Grove Observatory can be found here.
Image Credit: Minnesota Astronomical Society
Eisenhower Observatory
The Eisenhower Observatory is located at the Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins, MN and offers amateur astronomers the ability to experience the night sky through the Lawrence Sauter telescope.
Telescopes
At the Eisenhower Observatory, you can view the night sky through the Lawrence Sauter telescope located inside the Observatory Dome.
Visiting
Registration is currently open for both public and private viewings throughout the upcoming season. Click here to register for a viewing. If you have a visit planned, be sure to check the Observatory Hotline on the day of your visit for any cancelation notices due to inclement weather or staffing changes: 952-988-5090.
Image Credit: Hopkins Community Education
Goodsell Observatory
The Goodsell Observatory is located on the Carleton College campus in Northfield, Minnesota. Built in 1885, this observatory is home to some historic telescopes and was a premier observatory in the United States until WWII.
Telescopes
The observatory is home to three historic telescopes: a 16.2” John Brashear refractor, an 8 ¼” Alvan-Clark and Sons refractor, and a transit telescope. Goodsell is also home to a few 8” Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain LX200 telescopes, a SBIG STT-8300M camera, STF-8300M camera, and ST-2000XM CCD camera.
Visiting
The Goodsell Observatory typically hosts Open Houses for the community on the first Friday of every month. The Open Houses are free of charge and open to the public. A schedule of Open Houses can be found here.
Image Credit: Carleton College Department of Physics and Astronomy
Macalester College Observatory
The Macalester College Observatory is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is a science-grade facility for the students of the Physics & Astronomy Department on the Macalester College campus.
Telescopes
The Macalester Observator is home to a 16” reflecting telescope that points and tracks with repeatable precision and can be used not only for astronomy, but also for meaningful scientific research projects.
Image Credit: Macalester College
O’Brien Observatory
Built in 1967, the O'Brien Observatory is one of the first infrared observatories, built under University of Minnesota astronomer Edward Ney. The namesake of the observatory is William O'Brien, a lumber magnate, whose descendant, Thomond O'Brien, donated the land for the observatory.
Telescopes
The observatory houses a 30-inch, f/10, Cassegrain reflector telescope that can observe at both optical and infrared wavelengths. Any instrumentation used at the O'Brien Observatory must be user-supplied.
Visiting
The O'Brien Observatory does not appear to be open to the public at this time.
Image Credit: University of Minnesota
Onan Observatory
The Onan Observatory, part of the Eagle Lake Observatory, held its first Star Party in 2000 and is located in Norwood-Young America, Minnesota. The Observatory has four different observing platforms and more than a dozen telescopes.
Telescopes
This observatory’s telescopes consist of a Celestron C-14, a Stellarvue 152 telescope, a Tele Vue 102 telescope fitted with a Coronado H-Alpha solar filter, another Celestron C-14 outfitted with a Astrovid StellaCam2, a Takahashi TOA-130 equipped with an Astrovid PlanetCam and a 2.5x or 5x Powermate, a Takahashi FSq-106N equipped with a StellaCam II, a TeleVue-76 with a Coronado H-Alpha solar filter, a computer controlled 16” Meade LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain, and a TeleVue NP101 telescope, a Meade ETX 125 with a StellaCam II and PlanetCam.
Visiting
The Onan Observatory opens its doors for public star parties no matter the weather. Visiting hours and events can be found here.
Image Credit: Minnesota Astronomical Society
Paul P. Feder Observatory
The Paul P. Feder Observatory is maintained by the Minnesota State University Moorhead Physics Department. It is located in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Telescopes
The Paul P. Feder Observatory is home to a 16” cassegrain reflecting telescope.
Visiting
The observatory and telescope are used for public programming, college courses, amateur astronomers, and astronomical research. If you would like to schedule time at the observatory for research, reach out to the MSUM Physics Department. For additional sky watching opportunities, visit the MSUM planetarium.
Image Credit: Minnesota State Moorhead
Sola Fide Observatory
The Sola Fide Observatory is located in Austin, Minnesota. This public observatory is part of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center whose rich history began when Jay Catherwood Hormel planted the first of more than 200,000 trees on the land that the City of Austin would purchase for the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.
Visiting
The Sola Fide Observatory offers free public viewing nights 2 Saturday nights a month from April through September. Visit their website for more information and specific dates.
Image Credit: Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
Sylvia A. Casby Observatory
The Sylvia A. Casby Observatory, like the Onan Observatory, is part of the larger Eagle Lake Observatory. It is located in Norwood-Young America, Minnesota. This observatory became operational in 2013. It is maintained by the Minnesota Astronomical Society.
Telescopes
The Casby Observatory is home to several telescopes including an 8” TMB design refractor, a Takahashi Mewlon 300 Dall-Kirkham, and a SV102 refractor.
Visiting
Like the Onan Observatory, the Sylvia A. Casby Observatory opens its doors for public star parties no matter the weather.
Image Credit: Minnesota Astronomical Society
Interested in finding an observatory or planetarium in your state? Check out our Astronomy Hub!
