University School is proud to have an astronomical observatory that rivals that of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Located at the Hunting Valley Campus, the observatory is used for the study of astronomy and telescoping and provides opportunities for independent research and classroom applications for students at both campuses. It enables students to observe and research the stars and planets. The observatory is equipped with a 14-inch telescope weighing over 250 pounds, lenses and filters, an imaging camera with a color wheel, and a laptop computer.

 

Four University School seniors built the observatory in 2004 through the Strnad Fellowship Program, which enables students to undertake unique independent projects. The observatory's research capabilities were put to the test soon afterwards. The students photographed craters on the Moon's surface and captured live views of Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. They also studied the mass of the planet Jupiter by analyzing the orbit of its natural satellite, Io.