The Edwin E. Aldrin Astronomical Center - nr High Bridge, NJ
N 40° 40.920 W 074° 53.861
18T E 508646 N 4503462
The Edwin E. Aldrin Astronomical Center includes the The Paul Robinson Observatory and is run by the NJAA.
Waymark Code: WM8CMY
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 03/12/2010
Views: 11
This Observatory houses the largest telescope in New Jersey that is open to the public and the center is named after New Jersey born astronaut Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin. The New Jersey Astronomical Association runs the Center. The Center us open to the public on most Saturdays and some Sundays throughout the year, except for December and January.
From the Website, we have some description of the major equipment:
"The heart of the telescope is the primary mirror which is 26 inches in diameter. The instrument is currently a Newtonian with a focal ratio of f/4, but is soon to be converted to a Cassegrain design.
The telescope mount, a modified German Equatorial, is from Indiana University, where it had been used in experimental work. Its mount is a massive iron casting nearly seven feet high and its foundation penetrates twenty feet underground to the mountain's bedrock! The entire assembly weighs over four tons, and towers fifteen feet above the floor. The Observatory is equipped for both photographic and visual observation. Using auxiliary equipment, spectrographic, CCD and other studies are possible. But that's not all! The Observatory has a number of smaller scopes including the 10 inch Robinson scope, a 12 1/2 inch Newtonian telescope, and a specially designed solar scope built by the Solar Focus Group. But we're still not finished! There are a number of club telescopes that members, who don't have scopes of their own, can borrow for an evening of observing on the grounds of the Observatory."
The Observatory is located at 840 ft elevation in Vorhees State Park.
Observatory Purpose: Private
Optical / Infrared Telescopes?: Yes
Radio Telescopes?: No
Solar Telescopes?: Yes
Open to the Public?: Yes
Is this a Club Observatory?: Yes
Public Viewing Allowed?: Yes
Active Observatory?: Active
Number of Telescopes or Antennas: 6 to 10
Site URL: [Web Link]
Year Dedicated or Opened: 1965
Altitude (meters): 256
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Visit Instructions:Note the time of day of your visit, and your own photo of your favorite part of the observatory. This might be the view from the observatory, picture of your favorite building or favorite exhibit. (Be mindful of flash photography rules!)
If you participated in an observing session, let everyone know what you saw!