Optical Astronomical Observatories in Ontario

This list is presented for information only, and is not comprehensive. For further information, please contact the organizations that operate these observatories. If you have any suggestions, corrections, or additions, please send them to me at: sasajewun [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com

On-Line Observatories

• York University Observatory (York University, Toronto) offers Monday night free on-line viewing (except for Holidays). You can join in by clicking the “Join Us – Monday Night Online Viewing” button at: http://astronomy.blog.yorku.ca/

Historical Observatories

• David Dunlap Observatory (74″ reflector, the largest optical telescope in Canada), Richmond Hill, ON. Operated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Toronto Centre. Originally part of University of Toronto, it is now on private property but is open for certain events: http://www.theddo.ca
• Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory (15″ f/15 refractor) – holds the original refracting telescope from the now-defunct Dominion Observatory in Ottawa; at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Ottawa: http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/whatson/hogg_observatory.cfm

Observatories Accessible to the Public

• The Thunder Bay Observatory (Meade 16″ LX200R advanced optics telescope and others), Thunder Bay, ON. Operated by Randy McAllister. Available for public bookings and access. http://www.thunderbayobservatory.com/
• Killarny Provincial Park Observatory (10″ Meade SCT), along the north shore of Georgian Bay. A unique public access observatory – perhaps the only “self-serve” free observatory in Ontario. http://www.parkreports.com/parksblog/?p=959.
• Haliburton Forest Observatory (one 12″ and two 10″ Schmidt-Cassegrains), Haliburton: http://www.haliburtonforest.com/astro.html
• Madawaska Highlands Observatory (apparently still in development), Griffith, Ontario: http://madawaskahighlandsobservatory.com/

Astronomy Club Observatories

Many clubs and associations own and operate their own observatories. Some allow public access during scheduled open house events. Please check their individual web sites for details.

• ES Fox Observatory (12″ reflector in operation; 28″ Webster Dobsonian is planned), at the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre near Wiarton, ON. Operated by the Bluewater Astronomical Society: http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/
• The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Hamilton Centre Observatory (Trillium 16″ Ritchey Cretien, 17.5″ Dobsonian, other portable telescopes) north of Waterdown, ON: http://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/
• Long Point Observatory, St. Williams, ON: http://lpfun.ca/observatory-tours/
• Ken Odaisky Memorial Observatory, Sudbury Astronomy Club, Sudbury: http://www.ogorman.ca/observatory.shtml
• David Thompson Astronomical Observatory (20″ CDK telescope). and mount,, operated by Fort William Historical Park and RASC Thunder Bay Centre)” http://www.tbrasc.org/observatory/

University Observatories

University observatories are usually developed as research and teaching tools. However, as international facilities become more sophisticated, and as the skies of Ontario have been ever-increasingly polluted by light, their use in original research has declined. Some are still operated for teaching purposes or for public education. Please check individual observatory web sites for information on their status and whether visits by the public are possible.

The dome of the Elginfield Observatory, owned by the University of Western Ontario, is north of London. The dome houses one of Canada’s largest research telescopes, which is not at present in operation.

University of Western Ontario

• Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory (10″ refractor, 12″ reflector, small Schmidt camera), University of Western Ontario, London (on campus): http://www.physics.uwo.ca/outreach/cronyn_observatory.html
• The Elginfield Observatory (47″” reflector), University of Western Ontario, London (20 km N of London): http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~dfgray/observat.html. The large reflector is not in operation at present, but astronomy faculty at UWO are still making use of the site for other studies.

Queen’s University at Kingston

• The Queen’s Observatory (16″ Cassegrain), Queen’s University, Kingston: http://observatory.phy.queensu.ca/

University of Toronto

• St. George Campus Observatory (two domes, housing 16″ reflector and 8″ refractor, plus 10″ reflector), University of Toronto, Toronto: http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/~gasa/public_talk/iWeb/index.php

University of Waterloo

• Gustav Bakos Observatory, University of Waterloo, Waterloo: http://astro.uwaterloo.ca/observatory/

York University

• York University Observatory (23″ Cassegrain, 16″ Schmidt-Cassegrain), York University, Toronto: http://astronomy.blog.yorku.ca/

University of Guelph

• University of Guelph Observatory (14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain), Guelph: http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/observatory.php