Note:  Stargazing Session for Friday evening, Sep 5, may be clouded out.  Please watch local weather forecast.

stargazing at Widener university Observatory

As a service to Chester and surrounding communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, we offer Monday twilight and Friday evening telescope viewing sessions to identify and observe prominent objects in the night sky.  Widener University students, faculty, and staff are also welcome to attend.  Each session is supervised by a Widener University astronomer, assisted by a student.

Widener University Observatory

Visitors to the Widener University Observatory will get first-hand experience in viewing planets, stars, nebulae, clusters, and galaxies using a 16-inch computer-driven Meade Cassegrain reflecting telescope. In addition, several smaller, 12-inch telescopes are used. 

Look through our photo gallery of images taken with our telescope using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera.

Group Sessions

In addition to the regularly scheduled sessions, requests for special group sessions for elementary and high school children are considered. 

Bad Weather Policy

All sessions are held if weather permits. If the skies are cloudy, a session may be cancelled.  Please review our Bad Weather Policy.

The Night Sky this Month

What stars and planets are visible in the night sky tonight? Check out our StarPoints Column on the CosmosForum.  Download our monthly Night Sky Viewing and Calendar pages.  Download free sky maps from Skymaps.com and Space.com.

Astronomy and Weather Links

A number of interesting astronomy and weather related links are here for your education and enjoyment.

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Visit our Department of Physics & Astronomy website.  We offer a major in physics and minors in physics and in astronomy; also dual degrees with engineering; and teacher certification in physics.

Widener University Observatory
Kirkbride Hall 5th floor (North side)
17th & Walnut Streets

Widener University
One University Place
Chester, PA 19034