Fuertes Observatory, Ithaca

Perched on Cornell University’s North Campus near Helen Newman Hall, Fuertes Observatory has been bringing the stars a little closer to Earth since 1917. Designed by architecture professor L.P. Burnham, the observatory was originally used for civil engineering instruction before transitioning into a hub for public outreach in astronomy. Named after Estevan Antonio Fuertes, a Puerto Rican-American astronomer, and builder of Cornell’s first observatory, this historic site is now maintained by the Cornell Department of Astronomy, with open houses managed by the Cornell Astronomical Society-a dedicated group of undergraduate and graduate students.

The observatory's central attraction is the Irving Porter Church Telescope, a 12-inch refracting telescope mounted in 1922 on a German equatorial mount. What makes it even more impressive is its weight-driven mechanical clock drive, which allows it to track celestial objects as they move across the night sky. Attached to this instrument is an original 4.5-inch telescope, which now serves as a finder scope.

Beyond its telescopic wonders, the east wing houses a small museum featuring antique astronomical instruments, including transit telescopes and zenith scopes once used in geodesy and timekeeping. Every Friday night from 8 PM to midnight, the observatory opens its doors to the public for stargazing (weather permitting), guided tours, and educational programs, sometimes including astronomy lectures or documentary screenings.

For more than a century, Fuertes Observatory has continued to captivate students, researchers, and astronomy enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into both the universe and the evolution of celestial observation.