Bucknell Observatory

Can you visit Bucknell Observatory? Yes

Free Public Observing Nights several times per semester (e.g. Mar 20 and Apr 25, 2026).

A public night at an observatory usually starts at dusk with a short talk, then a line at the eyepiece of the main telescope for the Moon, a planet or a bright cluster, with volunteers' smaller telescopes set up outside. Dress for the night air even in summer: domes are not heated, so the telescope stays at outside temperature. Many nights sell out or cancel for clouds, so check the observatory's site on the day.

What Bucknell Observatory observes

The list does not describe the instruments at Bucknell Observatory yet; the official site has them.

How dark the sky is at Bucknell Observatory

Bucknell Observatory has no Bortle rating in the list yet. The scale below shows what each class looks like.

Sky brightness and class come from the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness (Falchi et al. 2016, CC BY-NC 4.0), with natural skyglow added, at the coordinates below. Research telescopes are often sited on mountains above the haze, so the real sky can be darker than the map suggests.

Bucknell Observatory among the observatories of Pennsylvania

Green dots are observatories open to the public, blue dots research or private sites, squares dark sky places; select one for its page. See Pennsylvania observatories for the full list.

The coordinates on this page point to zip 17837 (approximate): 40.970°N, 76.910°W.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open the larger map · Directions. Mountain observatory roads are often gated after dark; go only on a scheduled public night.

Dark sky places, observatories and clubs near Bucknell Observatory

Bucknell Observatory is about 23 km (14 mi) from McCalls Dam State Park, a Bortle Class 3 dark sky place. See McCalls Dam State Park for camping, where to set up and the sky by season.

Nearest dark sky places

Other observatories open to the public within 150 km

• Naylor ObservatoryLewisberry, Pennsylvania, 92 km (57 mi). Astronomical Society of Harrisburg public observing nights at Naylor Observatory on scheduled weekend evenings (see ASH calendar)
• Paul E. Hickes ObservatoryHuntingdon, Pennsylvania, 106 km (66 mi). Free Observatory Nights on scheduled Mondays 8-10 pm during semesters; no registration
• Thomas G. Cupillari ObservatoryFleetville, Pennsylvania, 115 km (72 mi). Free public sessions (e.g. summer Wed and Fri 9-11 pm; spring and fall seasons too), no registration; groups by Monday reservation
• Eileen M. Collins ObservatoryCorning, New York, 130 km (81 mi). Free public viewing 1st and 3rd Fridays, 8-10 pm, weather permitting; no reservation; park at Digital Dome lot
• Kopernik Observatory and Science CenterVestal, New York, 144 km (89 mi). Friday night public programs Mar-mid-Dec (talk plus observatory viewing), about 8 pm; adults $6, seniors/students $4, family max $20

Astronomy clubs within 150 km

• Astronomical Society of HarrisburgHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, 78 km (48 mi). Meets Monthly general meeting, Mondays 7:30-9 pm (see astrohbg.org for venue)
• Central Pennsylvania ObserversState College, Pennsylvania, 82 km (51 mi)
• Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical SocietyHazle Twp, Pennsylvania, 99 km (62 mi). Meets 2nd Saturday evening monthly, Hazle Township Commons Building
• Astronomy Enthusiasts of Lancaster CountyLancaster, Pennsylvania, 104 km (65 mi). Meets 1st Wednesday monthly, 6:30-8 pm
• Berks County Amateur Astronomical SocietyReading, Pennsylvania, 105 km (66 mi)

Star parties near Bucknell Observatory

Planning a trip? Astrotourism in Pennsylvania puts the dark sky places, observatories, clubs, star parties, planetariums and science centers of the state on one map, with the best night out worked out.

Bucknell Observatory record

From the site's observatories dataset (observatories_q426). Distances are computed from the coordinates.