Observatory Status
It may be breezy tonight, but the forecasts are predicting that it will be clear to partly cloudy. Therefore, Collins Observatory will be open this evening, Monday, November 24, 2025.
We have a girl scout troop coming up to visit Collins Observatory before opening time this evening. I would suggest that anyone else wishing to come up tonight delay arriving until about 07:30 PM to let them finish up. Note: It will be colder feeling on the roof than on the ground, so dress warmly.
Note: Collins Observatory will be open to all SSU students, faculty, and staff, and non SSU individuals.
Please check back on this site for any other changes, or updates about openings in the future.
Collins Observatory is normally open on CLEAR, or MOSTLY CLEAR Mondays from 7-10 PM, or later depending upon the time of sunset. We’re open during the school year from September to May, and are closed on school holidays, when the school is on vacation, mandated closings, and during the summer. It is also available for special group visits during the year when feasible.
The observatory houses a Meade 12-inch LX-200 ACF telescope, which does fairly well in the light polluted skies over Salem.
Please call the observatory at 978-542-6452, if you’re coming from a distance, as the weather is a bit unstable this close to the ocean.
Notes:
What’s up tonight?
- Saturn (between Cetus and Pisces) is visible when we open.
- Uranus (in Taurus) is up when we open, and should be viewable.
- Neptune (between Cetus and Pisces) rises with Saturn, and should be visible with a telescope or binoculars when we open.
- Minor planet Ceres (in Cetus) is up when we open, and may be visible through a telescope, or binoculars at that time.
- Jupiter (in Gemini) rises as we open this week. It should be high enough for observing around 08:15 PM.
- M42 (the Orion Nebula) in Orion should be up when we open this week, and should be high enough to observe by 08:00 PM.
Visit us: Map
Located on Rt. 114, ( Lafayette St. ) in Salem, MA.
Parking is in flux – we suggest you attempt to use the new parking garage in the lower student parking lot, or the street, which is RT. 114, in front of Meier Hall. Meier Hall is the second building from the faculty parking area “A”, and next to the school theater. Enter through the front door on RT. 114. Go down the hall to the back of the building and take a left. There is an elevator about thirty feet down from there on your right. Go on the elevator and press floor “P” (sixth floor). Turn right upon leaving the elevator. Turn left after the double hall doors and go out the glass doors to the roof. Take the stairs on the left to the observatory.