York University Observatory is an astronomical

Astronomy

Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...

 observatory

Observatory

An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...

 owned and operated by York University

York University

York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....

. It is located in Toronto, Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It owns two telescopes housed in two domes, a Schmidt-Cassegrain (Meade) 40 cm (15.7 in) and a Cassegrain 60 cm (23.6 in), and other smaller portable telescopes.

Telescopes 1 and 2 are located at the main building at Petrie and the remainder at Arboretum Observing Facility on the roof of the Arboretum Parking Garage.

Opened in 1969, York's observatory is opened to both researchers and amateur astronomers.

The observatory is open to the public every Wednesday evening, and also hosts public viewing sessions for special events, such as Astronomy Day

Astronomy Day

Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals....

 in 2006, Earth Hour

Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a global event organized by WWF and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change...

 and Science Rendezvous

Science Rendezvous

thumb|250px|Science Rendezvous signage and logo in background together with exhibit on States-of-Matter, [[hydraulophone]], and H2Orchestra, at University of Toronto, 2009...

 in 2008. There is no admission cost to visit the observatory.

Like David Dunlap Observatory

David Dunlap Observatory

The David Dunlap Observatory is a large astronomical observatory site once owned by the University of Toronto, located just north of the city in Richmond Hill, Ontario within a estate. Its primary instrument is a 74-inch reflector telescope, at one time the second largest telescope in the world,...

, York's location is subject to nearby light pollution. York is located away from residential neighbourhoods, but it is still subject to lights on campus and the surrounding business at the Keele location. Unlike the University of Toronto

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...

, York does not own an operate alternate observatory in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 or abroad.

Other observatories in Greater Toronto

There is one other observatory in Toronto and one former observatory in Toronto:

• David Dunlap Observatory
  David Dunlap Observatory
  The David Dunlap Observatory is a large astronomical observatory site once owned by the University of Toronto, located just north of the city in Richmond Hill, Ontario within a estate. Its primary instrument is a 74-inch reflector telescope, at one time the second largest telescope in the world,...
  
   - Richmond Hill, Ontario
  Richmond Hill, Ontario
  Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
  
   (formerly of the University of Toronto
  University of Toronto
  The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
  
  )
• Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
  Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
  The Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory is a historical observatory located on the grounds of the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The original building was constructed in 1840 as part of a worldwide research project run by Edward Sabine to determine the cause of...
  
   - University of Toronto
  University of Toronto
  The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
  
  St. George campus

External links

• York University Observatory
• York University Observatory Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.