Robinson Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robinson Observatory |
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| Organization | University of Central Florida College of Sciences |
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| Location | Orlando, FL, United States | ||||||||||
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Coordinates
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28°35′30″N 81°11′26″W / 28.59175°N 81.19062°W
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| Established | 1995 | ||||||||||
| Website physics.ucf.edu/observatory.php |
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The Robinson Observatory is a special place where people study the stars and planets. It is owned and run by the University of Central Florida College of Sciences in Orlando, Florida, USA.
You can visit the observatory to look at the night sky! They have public viewing nights on the first and third Wednesday of every month. These events are put on by the Central Florida Astronomical Society (CFAS).
Building the Observatory
The Robinson Observatory was built in 1995. It cost a lot of money to build, more than $500,000. A kind person named Herbert Robinson gave almost half of that money.
The observatory was named after Herbert Robinson on April 25, 1996. This happened about eight months after he passed away. Naming it after him was a way to honor his generous gift.
Modern Upgrades
In the 2000s, the observatory got many cool updates. The biggest changes happened in 2007. They added fast internet, which helps with research.
They also got a new 20-inch (51 cm) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope. This is a very powerful telescope! Now, scientists can even control the telescope and its dome from far away using the internet.
What's Next for the Observatory?
There are plans to make the Robinson Observatory even bigger. The United States Air Force is donating two smaller telescopes and their domes. These will be added to the observatory, giving more ways to explore space.
See also
In Spanish: Observatorio Robinson para niños
