{shortcode-2c463bb0de052553350072c148aeeb51600de697}

{shortcode-3da2b1aa52da98f845b6df8a4cd7a914ecd26e90}

A view from the eighth-floor deck below the observatory showcases stunning views of the campus and the Boston skyline beyond it. It is also a chance to sight stars to find with the telescope later.

{shortcode-27faf50a157902b2ed7b41dd1d5768996a5dc5a9}

A custom-made spherical structure holding a chair found on the deck is used to visualize rotation of a celestial body.

{shortcode-24ba84e3d1844f4898de2360affaf8b6c8a6e28a}

A weather vane on the deck stands completely still beneath the stars. The STAHR observatory is only opened when wind speeds are less than 25 miles per hour.

{shortcode-f3a54bb286c8a630bd4404ca25eb701efd6e8faf}

A plaque at the base of the telescope describes the place and year of its manufacture. Donated by Walter Michael in 1976, the telescope is the centerpiece of the observatory.

{shortcode-6309f1b18b443acdc02a711cea23ce73c0188530}

The telescope is directed towards a vertical opening in the dome. An older, 10-inch refracting model, the telescope works by using several lenses to funnel and focus light into the eyepiece. The 150-inch-long focal length allows the telescope to magnify more than 300 times, rendering enough detail to see the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, some 400 million miles away.

{shortcode-c3302fa1a0b4d913ec43409a34d5a0d74439b7c7}

Artwork from generations of students in STAHR adorns the walls and rim of the dome. Other pieces, like a student-designed wooden chair and ladder, move along the dome to assist students in adjusting the telescope.

{shortcode-ba738e9fb6db6bcf629a336fd45b44afbeff990c}

The slow, motorized opening of the dome reveals the night sky, decorated with stars.

{shortcode-960611e651b352de862cbcdf9cad45d3dbf48e23}

The telescope is carefully moved into position. Following recent repairs due to water damage, several additional precautions are taken while maneuvering the telescope.

{shortcode-6a56f5d5d4843591c4df5ce5eb8b36bfa6372ece}

With the dome opened and the telescope prepared, we direct the lens toward the moon. The image in the eyepiece is controlled by a focus knob. Careful manipulation of the telescope reveals a close-up image of the moon.

{shortcode-edcfcaad95007a8e782bfbad4dbbd72cf0b0ecfa}