High above the village of Alfred sits Stull Observatory, Alfred University’s very own gateway to the cosmos. An observatory at a school of Alfred’s size is rare—but thanks to our dark skies and stunning views of the Milky Way, it’s the perfect place to look up and wonder.
History
The story of Alfred’s observatory is long, fascinating, and even a little mysterious. In 1863, Alfred University purchased its first observatory—Rogers Observatory—for $4,300, funded by donations and volunteer labor. Inside was a 9-inch refractor telescope, the second largest in the world at the time (Harvard owned the largest at 15 inches). This telescope, known as The Fitz after its maker Henry Fitz, was a point of pride.
Nearly a century later, Rogers Observatory had fallen into disrepair. The Fitz was missing, and the building was hidden by trees. Then came a twist: two Alfred students heard a rumor about an old telescope tucked away in the attic of what is now Seidlin Hall. They found it—and brought The Fitz back to life. Today, The Fitz resides in Stull Observatory, alongside five modern telescopes, continuing Alfred’s tradition of stargazing.
Academics
Love the stars? Alfred offers a major or minor in Astrophysics and a minor in Astronomy for those who aren’t math-heavy. These programs give you the chance to study the universe—and work alongside one of the largest optical telescopes in New York State.
