James Wylie Shepherd Observatory

When completed in 2009, the facility will provide incomparable observing and educational opportunities.  Located three miles from the main campus on the 150-acre Gentry Springs property, the JWSO will feature a state-of-the-art Meade 20-inch RCX 400 Advanced Ritchey-Chretien telescope installed in a fully-robotic 20.5-foot diameter observatory dome.

When further planned development is completed, the Observatory Complex will offer the region's premiere completely accessible telescope as well as an outdoor planetarium-amphitheatre, educational exhibits and a vision center in which groups can see images generated by the main telescope.

For additional information about the observatory, go to www.shepherdobservatory.org.  For giving information, you may contact University Advancement at 205-665-6215.