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Welcome to the UMSL Schwartz Observatory Website. Located on the campus of UMSL, the observatory is used for astronomical research and for public education. It houses a 16" Meade LX200 telescope and two portable 8" Celestron telescopes.  The telescope can be used for imaging or spectroscopy with an SBIG ST-8 CCD camera.

observatory at night


Public Astronomy at UMSL

Sponsored in part by the NASA Space Grant Consortium 

Here at UMSL, we have an active public outreach program at our observatory and the planetarium.  From February through November each year, we host open houses. During these popular events, the public is invited to visit the observatory where a student or volunteer will point the telescope at various objects of interest, point out constellations, and answer general astronomy questions.

For up-to-date information on the Open Houses, cancellations due to weather, or other special events in the sky, call the Skywatch Hotline: (314) 516-5706. This number has a message describing the next open house. After 6 p.m. on scheduled open house days, the message will be changed if there is a cancellation.

If you have a large group (30 or more), a special open house may be scheduled for your group. Contact the Department of Physics & Astronomy at (314) 516-5931 and they will point you to the right person.

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Directions

The Observatory has moved to a new site located on the North Campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, which is in Normandy, MO. If you need more information please call the observatory at (314) 516-5706.

From I-170

Take I-170 to Exit 6, Natural Bridge Road. There should be a green sign marked "University" which points which way to turn on Natural Bridge. (From South I-170 it is a right.) Follow Natural Bridge past Hanley Road, go through one more stop light and turn left at the second stop light after Hanley Road (the main entrance to North Campus) onto University Drive. Follow the road as it curves until it hits University Boulevard and turn right. Turn left on Rosedale Drive. The Fine Arts Building is up the hill on the left.  Be warned: The lights will be out around the observatory, so there may be some difficulty seeing it in the dark. 

From I-70

From I-70, travel east on Florissant Road (also known as University Boulevard). Turn left on Rosedale Drive, which is across from UMSL's Parking and Transportation Building. The Fine Arts Building is up the hill on the left.  Be warned: The lights will be out around the observatory, so there may be some difficulty in seeing the observatory in the darkness.

The observatory (building 35) is located just next to the softball field in the map.