The Robinson Observatory is an
astronomical
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxi ...
observatory owned and operated by the
University of Central Florida College of Sciences
The University of Central Florida College of Sciences is the largest academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, United States. The dean of the college is Michael Johnson, Ph.D.
The College of Sciences was ...
in
Orlando
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...
,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
,
USA
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
.
Public viewings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month and are sponsored by the Central Florida Astronomical Society (CFAS).
History
The observatory was built at a cost of over $500,000 in 1995, with Herbert Robinson donating almost half of the total cost. The observatory was given the name Robinson posthumously, eight months after Herbert Robinson's death, on April 25, 1996.
In the 2000s, a number of updates and renovations were completed at the observatory. The most recent addition was in 2007; it included high speed internet, a new
Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, and the ability to remotely operate the telescope and dome.
Future
Plans are under way to expand the Robinson Observatory to include two smaller telescopes with domes donated by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
.
See also
*
List of astronomical observatories
This is a list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and location. The list also includes a final year of operation for many observatories that are no longer in ...
*
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university whose main campus is in unincorporated Orange County, Florida. UCF also has nine smaller regional campuses throughout central Florida. It is part of the State University ...
*
College of Sciences
References
External links
University of Central FloridaUCF Department of Physics
{{Portal bar, Florida, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science
University of Central Florida
Astronomical observatories in Florida
Buildings and structures in Orlando, Florida
Tourist attractions in Orlando, Florida
1995 establishments in Florida