Adolphson Observatory

Adolphson Observatory, on Monmouth College’s campus in Monmouth, Illinois, supports teaching, undergraduate research, and public science outreach from a dome atop the Center for Science and Business. Established in 2013 through a gift from David and Priscilla Adolphson, it was created to improve night-sky observing for students and faculty. Its work has included tracking and discovering near-earth objects, reflecting a hands-on approach to astronomy. The observatory’s principal instrument is the Trubeck Telescope, a 20-inch astrograph donated in 2015 by William Trubeck, supplemented by additional telescopes and spectroscopy capability. By 2026, its research ties linked students to work connected with the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time.

Monmouth, Illinois · United States