Observatory
The Carlson R. Chambliss Astronomical Observatory (CRCAO) is located on the roof of the Grim Science Building and is labeled Room 300. The control rooms are located on the third floor of Grim (room 302) and the astrophysics spectroscopy lab is room S13.
The Observatory serves the entire KU Community:
- Physics/Astronomy faculty and students perform astrophysics research projects.
- Art/Photography faculty and students perform astrophotography projects.
- Astronomy courses rely on the observatory for many educational projects.
- The observatory is frequently open for public observing events, a community outreach project in association with the KU Planetarium.
- Astronomers visiting from other institutions also use the Observatory.
Check out the Clear Sky Chart weather forecast.
About Carlson R. Chambliss
Carlson R. Chambliss was born in Boston, MA on July 17, 1941. Chambliss received an A.B. degree from Harvard University in 1962, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968.
He joined the faculty of Kutztown State College in 1970, where he served for the next 33 years.
Dr. Chambliss is a member of the AAS (American Astronomical Society) and the IAU (International Astronomical Union). The asteroid Chambliss (23707) has been named for him.
Upon retiring from Kutztown University, he established the C.R. Chambliss Scholarship Fund benefiting students in the physical sciences. His lifelong interest in philately and numismatics led him to establish medal award programs for students (Kutztown Academic Achievement Awards) and for faculty members (Kutztown Faculty Research Awards). He also established three different award medal programs with the AAS that honor graduate and undergraduate student researchers, amateur astronomers, and astronomical writers.
In November 2019, Kutztown University named the observatory in his honor for his generous support.
Portrait by Sandra Corpora '69.
