University of Alabama Observatory

The University of Alabama Observatory is an astronomical observation facility located atop Gallalee Hall on the campus. The facility houses a modern 16-inch diameter telescope inside a rotating dome that allows visitors to view the night sky.

The original observatory was built in 1844 as a Greek Revival structure and survived the Federal raid of 1865 during the Civil War. The current facility was established in 1950 to replace the historic building.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy maintains monthly public viewing sessions where faculty and students share their knowledge of celestial objects with visitors.

The observatory opens one night per month for free public viewing sessions with no admission charge. Specific dates are posted each semester on the observatory website, so visitors should check ahead before planning their visit.

The facility was upgraded in 2005 with a modern 16-inch reflector telescope, replacing an older 10-inch refracting model. This improvement significantly enhanced the ability to observe and study celestial objects in greater detail for public viewing sessions.