C.E.K. Mees Observatory is an astronomical

Astronomy

Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...

 observatory

Observatory

An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...

 in Bristol

Bristol, New York

Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 2,421 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Bristol County, Massachusetts by settlers from New England....

, New York, owned and operated by The University of Rochester

University of Rochester

The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...

. The observatory is named after C. E. Kenneth Mees

Kenneth Mees

Charles Edward Kenneth Mees FRS was a British-American physicist and photographic researcher.He was born in Wellingborough, England, the son of a Wesleyan minister, and attended the University of London. In 1906 he was awarded his D.Sc. with a dissertation on photographic theory...

, "in honor of his pioneering work in the development of sensitive photographic emulsions for use in astronomy."

The site possesses a 24 in (61 cm) Cassegrain telescope on an English-style telescope mount

Telescope mount

A telescope mount is a mechanical structure which supports a telescope. Telescope mounts are designed to support the mass of the telescope and allow for accurate pointing of the instrument...

 in a two-story dome in addition to a 12 in (31 cm) Orion SkyQuest Dobsonian, an inoperative 6 in (15 cm) Newtonian reflector on a German equatorial mount

Equatorial mount

An equatorial mount is a mount for instruments that follows the rotation of the sky by having one rotational axis parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation. This type of mount is used for astronomical telescopes and cameras...

, and a 6 in refractor used as a guide telescope. The observatory is notable as a premier location for astronomical observation in Ontario county due to the low levels of light pollution and relative elevation, given that it is situated on the highest point in Ontario county.
The observatory also boasts a vacation home run by the University of Rochester which is used for public outreach, University faculty retreats, and astronomers who stay the night.
The public is welcome to come on free public tours of the observatory during the summer. The tour website may be found in the external links section below.

External links

• C.E.K. Mees Observatory Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.
• Mees Observatory Tours Sign up for a free public tour on summer weekends.