Davis Hall Observatory
Explore the night sky at the Davis Hall Observatory, an educational resource for students and the northern Illinois community.
Located atop Davis Hall overlooking the East Lagoon, the observatory provides opportunities to observe planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial objects through professional-grade telescopes. Public viewing is free and open to everyone.
Public Viewing
The observatory is open to the public from 8 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays, weather permitting.
Before visiting, please check our Facebook page for weather updates and observing conditions.
About the Observatory
The Davis Hall Observatory opened in 1965 and was renovated in 2000 through grants from the NIU Foundation and the DeKalb Foundation. Its dome was constructed by Ash Dome of Plainfield, Illinois.
The observatory features a hydraulic floor that can be raised and lowered to provide comfortable viewing through the telescopes. Its tracking system also supports long-exposure astrophotography.
Observing Conditions
Although nearby campus and city lights create some light pollution, the observatory provides excellent views toward the north, northwest, south, southwest and directly overhead. Nighttime observing is conducted under red lighting to help preserve visitors' night vision.
Telescopes and Equipment
The observatory includes:
- Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
- TeleVue 85 mm refracting telescope
- Losmandy G-11 equatorial mount
- Astrophotography equipment
- Sky Atlas 2000.0 and other star charts
- Celestron TheSky astronomy software
Visit the Observatory
The observatory is located on the ninth floor of Davis Hall on the NIU campus.
Davis Hall is located on Normal Road, approximately one block north of Lincoln Highway.
After 5 p.m., free parking is available in the parking garage across from Davis Hall.
Finding the Observatory
Take the elevator to the fifth floor, turn left to the end of the hallway, then turn right and continue to the staircase. Follow the signs to Room 703 and the observatory.