Observatory Nights
Observatory Nights
Starting Thursday, October 22, 2026 the observatory will be open for members of the Macalester community to take a peak at the cosmos through the 16” telescope on the roof of Olin-Rice. As long as the sky is clear, students from the Physics and Astronomy Department will host observing sessions from 8:30p-10:30p every Thursday for the remainder of the fall (2026) semester.
Please note these events are currently NOT open to the public.
About our Observatory Nights
On observing nights our 16-inch telescope will be open for viewing and education. Observatory Nights is an ongoing student-run event which allows the Macalester College community to take advantage of the college’s science-grade observatory.
Weather permitting, potential targets include the Moon, planets, globular clusters, star clusters, binary star systems, galaxies, and planetary nebulae. In the case of cloudy skies, poor visibility, or precipitation, we will not be able to open the dome for observing.
Directions to Observatory
Please note, Macalester buildings are only open to the public for special events and currently Observatory Nights are only open to Macalester students and employees with MacPass ID cards.
- To access the telescope, enter Olin Rice Hall using your MacPass access.
- Take the stairs or service elevator on the SOUTHWEST (closest to the tennis courts) side of the building up to the fourth floor.
- Enter the first room on the left — you will see a spiral staircase.
- Ascend the spiral staircase to the roof. The dome is only accessible by this staircase.
Contact Info
Brian Adams
Laboratory Supervisor and Observatory Manager
[email protected]
651-696-6456