McKim Observatory DePauw University

Home
United States
Greencastle, IN
McKim Observatory DePauw University

Directions Website

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from McKim Observatory DePauw University, Landmark & historical place, 711 Highridge Avenue, Greencastle, IN.

08/19/2026

Open House at McKim Observatory Friday 21 August 2026 8:45pm – 10:00 pm.

Right now the forecast is for clear skies for our first open house of fall semester. This Friday we will have our historic Clark telescope aimed at the Moon. In addition to looking through the telescope, you can explore the first floor exhibits about the history of the observatory.

For your visit, please note the historic building is not ADA compliant. The access to the building is a set of stairs up from street level, then three more steps up into the building. Inside, the access to the second floor is by a wooden spiral staircase with a conventional steepness. Also note that while McKim is an excellent example of a historic observatory, it lacks the modern convenience of a restroom. Parking is in the residential neighborhood.

McKim Observatory Open Houses are Free!

08/06/2026

We are happy to announce the schedule of Open Houses at McKim Observatory for fall 2026. We plan a mix of nights for viewing the Moon and a few dark moonless nights for dark sky targets. And best of all, Saturn returns to our sky this fall!

McKim Observatory Open House Schedule Fall 2026
All dates are Friday evenings
August 21 8:45 – 10:00 pm Moon
September 18 8:15 – 10:00 pm Moon
October 23 7:45 – 9:45 pm Moon and Saturn
October 30 8:00 – 10:00 pm Saturn and dark sky targets
November 13 7:00 – 9:00 pm Moon, Saturn and dark sky targets
November 20 7:00 – 9:00 pm Moon and Saturn
December 4 7:00 – 9:00 pm Saturn and dark sky targets

McKim Open Houses are free!
Parking on the street. Please note our historic observatory is not ADA compliant.

05/04/2026

Special Event at McKim Observatory! “Duets in the Dome” concert, Friday 8 May, 2026

This Friday McKim Observatory will host the first of what we hope are many “Duets in the Dome” concerts. This first concert features artists Micah Layne and Chef Kate for an hour of live flute music played in the dome of the Observatory. Seating in the dome is limited to 17 people, and you must make a reservation. The event is free.

To request a reservation, email [email protected] with the subject line “McKim Concert”. Include the number of people in your group. Your spot is not reserved until I respond to your email.

The observatory door will open at 7:30 and your reservation will be checked against a list. The concert is from 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm. Following the concert, if the sky is clear the telescope will be open to view Jupiter, starting at 9:15. Between the concert and telescope viewing, concert attendees may explore the first floor of the observatory looking at exhibits until the telescope opens for viewing.

Please note the seating in the dome is on basic metal folding chairs, and it will be cozy.

04/22/2026

Open House at McKim Observatory Friday, 24 April 2026, 8:45 – 10:00 p.m.

At this point the forecast for Friday evening is for clouds. We will be open, clear or cloudy. If we get breaks in the clouds, we will open up the dome and point the telescope at the Moon. If it stays cloudy you have time to explore the exhibits on the history of the observatory. This is the last scheduled Open House for this academic year, but we hope to have a couple of pop-up open houses throughout the summer months.

For your visit, please note the historic building is not ADA compliant. The access to the building is a set of stairs up from street level, then three more steps up into the building. Inside, the access to the second floor is by a wooden spiral staircase with a conventional steepness. Also note that while McKim is an excellent example of a historic observatory, it lacks the modern convenience of a restroom. Parking is along the street.

McKim Observatory Open Houses are Free!

03/25/2026

Open House at McKim Observatory Friday, 27 March 2026, 8:30 – 10:00 p.m.

It looks like clear skies are possible on Friday for our McKim Observatory Open House. Jupiter and the Moon will be on the program. In addition to looking through the telescope, you can explore the exhibits on the history of the observatory.

For your visit, please note the historic building is not ADA compliant. The access to the building is a set of stairs up from street level, then three more steps up into the building. Inside, the access to the second floor is by a wooden spiral staircase with a conventional steepness. Also note that while McKim is an excellent example of a historic observatory, it lacks the modern convenience of a restroom. Parking is along the street.

McKim Observatory Open Houses are Free!

03/12/2026

Open House at McKim Observatory Friday, 13 March 2026, 9:00 – 10:00 p.m.

The cloud forecast for Friday night’s Open House at McKim Observatory is uncertain, some models show the clouds holding off until later in the night. Let’s hope that works out! We will be open from 9:00 to 10:00 pm. Jupiter is our primary target for the night, and even if there are scattered clouds we should still be able to get glimpses of it. If the sky is clear, we will also try for the Orion Nebula. This will be the last chance to see the Orion Nebula at McKim until next winter.

Even if it is too cloudy for viewing through the telescope you can still enjoy the exhibits in the observatory. Each room shows information about our unique observatory.

For your visit, please note the historic building is not ADA compliant. The access to the building is a set of stairs up from street level, then three more steps up into the building. Inside, the access to the second floor is by a wooden spiral staircase with a conventional steepness. Also note that while McKim is an excellent example of a historic observatory, it lacks the modern convenience of a restroom. Parking is along the street.

McKim Observatory Open Houses are Free!

02/26/2026

I have been getting questions about the “rare planetary alignment” happening on Feb 28. I have seen many ridiculously bad images about this. In the photos I show a bad image and the best I can create using the Stellarium planetarium software.

Here is what is actually happening. Venus, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune will be low in the west after sunset. My image is shown for 7:08 pm, which is 30 minutes past sunset on Feb 28. Venus is 5 degrees above the horizon; Saturn is 14 degrees above the horizon. Neptune is 1 degree to the right of Saturn. All will be in the twilight glare of the Sun. If you have a very clear western horizon should be able to see Venus. You might see Mercury with binoculars. Neptune is never visible to the unaided eye; you would need a telescope for it. I think Saturn will be hard to pick out, but maybe. As time goes on it will get darker, but these western planets will be getting lower in the sky.

On the opposite side of your sky, above the eastern sky, you will easily see the Moon and Jupiter. Uranus is up there too, but like Neptune, you need a telescope to see it. It is about 47 degrees to the right of Jupiter. For scale, the Moon and Jupiter are separated by 25 degrees on Feb 28.

The relative positions of the planets do not change much in a few days, but the position of the Moon does change a lot in one day. A nice thing to look for over the next couple of nights is to watch how the Moon catches up to and then passes Jupiter.

Bottom line: Jupiter and the Moon will be easy to see in the east. If you have a clear western horizon you can probably see Venus after sunset. I would not count on Saturn or Mercury, but maybe you will get lucky with binoculars (and a very clear western horizon). Forget about Neptune and Uranus.

02/24/2026

Open House at McKim Observatory Friday, 27 February 2026, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Once again, we have a clear forecast for Friday night! Both Jupiter and the Moon will be on the program. In addition to looking through the telescope, you can explore the exhibits on the history of the observatory. Be sure to see the Astral lantern which is on display for one more month before it goes in for restoration.

For your visit, please note the historic building is not ADA compliant. The access to the building is a set of stairs up from street level, then three more steps up into the building. Inside, the access to the second floor is by a wooden spiral staircase with a conventional steepness. Also note that while McKim is an excellent example of a historic observatory, it lacks the modern convenience of a restroom. Parking is along the street.

McKim Observatory Open Houses are Free!

02/13/2026

Just a reminder that McKim Observatory will be open tonight (Friday 13 Feb.) from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. The weather looks good: clear and relatively warm. Please come out to tour our historic observatory and view Jupiter through the Clark refractor.

02/10/2026

Open House at McKim Observatory Friday, 13 February 2026, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Right now, the forecast is for clear sky on Friday! We will be showing Jupiter through the historic Clark telescope. Check out our many exhibits on the history of the observatory and be sure to see the Astral lantern which is on display for one more month before it goes in for restoration.

For your visit, please note the historic building is not ADA compliant. The access to the building is a set of stairs up from street level, then three more steps up into the building. Inside, the access to the second floor is by a wooden spiral staircase with a conventional steepness. Also note that while McKim is an excellent example of a historic observatory, it lacks the modern convenience of a restroom. Parking is along the street.

McKim Observatory Open Houses are Free!

Address

711 Highridge Avenue
Greencastle, IN
46135

Website

https://www.depauw.edu/about/campus/mckim-observatory/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when McKim Observatory DePauw University posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed government service in Greencastle?