Allegheny Observatory

The Allegheny Observatory is one of the major astronomical research institutions of the world.  It is located in Riverview Park, four miles north of the Golden Triangle (downtown Pittsburgh) and eight miles from the University of Pittsburgh of which it is an integral part. Although pioneering in pure research is the chief function of the observatory, its telescopes and instrumental equipment are available for use by students of the university and observatory astronomers teach both credit and non-credit classes at the university.   Throughout its long history the observatory has always been aware, too, of its obligation to allow the public to become acquainted with the wonders of the night sky by actual observations and illustrated lectures. Astronomy the oldest of the sciences, is education in its purest form, for astronomy exists only because people want to know and understand the universe that surrounds them.