Siena students and faculty can gaze at the heavens in the College’s Breyo Observatory, which boasts the largest telescope in New York’s Capital Region.
Scientists, students and amateur astronomers can see the bands and Great Red Spot of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, distant galaxies, the formation of new stars, and much more through the main telescope, which features a 27.5-inch diameter mirror. The observatory is 16 feet high and sits atop Roger Bacon Hall. The rooftop viewing platform also has permanent mounts for five smaller telescopes.
The observatory opened for use in September 2018, and was formally dedicated on November 10.
In addition to the research and study conducted by the College’s science faculty and student majors, regular public observing events will be held throughout the year to welcome guests who have a fascination with space.
The observatory was funded by a grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation and a generous gift from John J. Breyo ’68 H’02 and his wife, Marilyn Breyo; the observatory was named in their honor.
“We can see galaxies that are millions of light years away with this telescope. Astronomy has a really broad appeal for so many people. It's very visual; the sizes and scales of things are just amazing. It's just a great way to bring people into science." -- Rose A. Finn, Ph.D., professor of physics and astronomy and director of the observatory project