California State University Bakersfield

Department of Physics and Engineering

BS in Physics: Observatory

Physics Observatory on the outskirts of the CSUB campus

The Department of Physics & Engineering operates a small observatory on the CSUB campus. The building, with its distinctive white dome on top of a square building, is situated within the Facility for Animal Care and Treatment, better known as FACT. It is easily visible from Camino Media to the south of campus. FACT and the observatory can be accessed from Parking Lot I, south of the Icardo Center.

Within its ten-foot, four-inch dome is a large Newtonian Reflecting Telescope made by Meade, with a 12.5-inch mirror and a clock drive to follow the stars. The observatory was built in 1985 and is used primarily by CSUB astronomy classes. Although lacking any computerization it has reliably provided views of stars, planets, nebulae, and moons.

For more information and access to the observatory, please contact the Chair of the Physics & Engineering Department, Dr. Jorge Talamantes at 661-654-2335 (email: jtalamantes@csub.edu) or the department’s Instructional Support Technician, Elizabeth Powers, at 661-654-3274 (email: epowers@csub.edu).

Meade telescope at CSUB Observatory
View of the 12.5" Meade telescope and its suspension.
Eyepiece of the Meade telescope at CSUB Observatory
View of the 12.5" Meade telescope barrel, the viewing eyepiece, and the finder scope.
Elizabeth Powers aligning the Meade telescope at CSUB Observatory
Department Instructional Support Technician Elizabeth Powers sets up and aligns the telescope.
Moon as seen by Dr. Jeff Lewis through Meade telescope at CSUB Observatory
Photo taken by Dr. Jeff Lewis using a digital camera and the 12 1/2" Meade Reflecting Telescope, CSUB Observatory