Friends of the University of Illinois Observatory

Happy Summer Solstice!
Illustration by James Gordon Irving and appearing in Herbert Zim and Robert Baker's "Stars" 1951.

Work on the dome and roof continues. Our NHL neighbor to the South, Morrow Plots, is also getting some work done.

Changes happening to our neighbor https://www.facebook.com/share/1VUpaRjAWk/

This exam season in academia. Here is an astronomy exam from 1893 - 8 questions and 2 hours 30 minutes to complete! And the hand writting is beautiful!

Summer camp opportunity!

Do you know a high school student curious about the universe?

Join Illinois Astronomy for a FREE summer camp for students entering grades 10–12! No experience needed!

- Observe with our historic telescope
- Learn the basics of coding
- Explore how astronomers study the universe

July 13–16 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Applications are open now and close at the end of May!

Apply here: https://apps.atlas.illinois.edu/FormBuilderSurvey/Survey/las/astronomy/summer_camp_in_astronomy_2026/

The exterior rehabilitation has begun! The dome will be cleaned, repaired, and painted white, the transit shutter for the east-central transit room will be made functional, and the south observing deck will return!

Excellent blog from a journalism student about looking up.

Sometimes, all it takes is looking up.

In this student-written blog, a journalism major shares how passing by the University of Illinois Observatory—and taking a chance on an astronomy class—sparked a new passion and rekindled a connection to home beneath the night sky.

From long-exposure photos behind the observatory to a breathtaking first glimpse of Saturn’s rings, it’s a reminder that curiosity can lead you somewhere unexpected.

Read the full story and see how astronomy continues to inspire across disciplines: https://las.illinois.edu/blog/2026-03-12/astronomy-makes-spectacular-stories

A few pictures from last weekends Engineering Open House.