The Colonial Observatory is a collaborative effort of the Colonial School District, the DVAA and other local clubs, and the Montgomery County Center for Technical Studies. All DVAA and other local club members are granted access as guests of the School District on a DVAA-supervised basis. Field trips by other schools, clubs, groups and organizations are welcome. We have also have a page featuring pictures of the Observatory and its parts.

Until December of 2003, the observatory housed an excellent historic Matthieson 8" Harry Fitz f/16 refractor, but this intrument was sold by its owners at that time. DVAA member Don D'Egidio had kindly provided his Celestron C-11 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (SCT) on a long-term loan basis so that there was still a permanent telescope for the observatory. However, the observatory building was designed for a long focal length refractor, so the SCT didn't really work as well.

In 2006, a replacement refractor was obtained via the generosity and hard work of a few DVAA members led by Don. The "new" refractor is an 8-inch F/12 intrument made by D&G Optical. This is temporarily mounted to Don's Losmandy G11 German Equatorial Mount (GEM); A permanent replacement mount is in the works.

The mount has been modified into a computerized goto mount using Mel Bartels ScopeII software and a Sidereal Technology servo motor controller. Don has machined custom motor mounts for the servo motors to mate with gearboxes that drive the RA and DEC axes.

The pier is an 8" diameter aluminum light post, 8' in height, purchased at a local scrap yard. Don has installed receptacles for 120V AC and 12V DC to allow the use of accessories at the telescope.

The observatory features a roll off roof, and includes 120 volt power inside and outside for running other scopes and peripherals. No eyepieces are available at the observatory, so please bring your own. The observatory is available most evenings except when a school or public event is scheduled.

The observatory is conveniently located at Colonial Middle School, 716 Belvoir Rd., Plymouth Meeting, PA, 19462. There is safe parking adjacent to the observatory site, which is on the school grounds of the Colonial Middle School.

Directions:

• From Philadelphia, take Germantown Pike west from the Plymouth Meeting Mall. At the top of the hill, take a left onto Sandy Hill Rd. Go right on Belvior. The Middle School is at the bottom of the hill, on the left.
• From the PA Turnpike, use exit 25 (Norristown), and follow Germantown Pike west, as above.
• I-476 from the south, take Germantown Pike west, as above.
• From the Schuylkill expressway, take I-476 North, then Germantown Pike west, as above.
• From the NorthWest suburbs, take Germantown Pike east, right on New Hope, left on Belvoir. The school is on the right, next to the Police Station.

Map to Colonial Observatory

The Observatory is available to anyone interested in using it, by prior phone arrangement by contacting . There is lit parking (good for car security but bad for light pollution) and there is electricity available via outlets on the outside of the building for anyone, at any time, to connect to an electric clock driven telescope. We have permission to be on the grounds, so feel free to observe even if the observatory itself is not open. Just beware of the skunks! :)

Every attempt will be made to open the observatory for use, even on short notice. Do not contact the school district. Please remember that the observatory is a Colonial School District facility, and all CSD policies are to be followed including a total ban on smoking on all district property including outdoor areas.