Skip to main content
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Report a Concern Give Now Visit Us Apply
  • Academics
    • Bachelor's Degree Programs
    • Associate Degree Programs
    • 2+2 Plan
    • Minors
    • Academic Services
  • Admissions
  • Tuition/Financial Aid
  • Information For
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Parents/Families
    • Current Students
    • Athletes
    • Alumni/Friends
    • Visitors
    • Community
    • Working Professionals
    • Faculty/Staff
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Give Now Visit Us Apply
  • This is Penn State
    • Chancellor’s Welcome
    • Campus Advisory Board
    • Campus Leadership
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • Quick Facts
    • Diversity
    • Sustainability
    • LaunchBox
    • Strategic Communications
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Why Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
    • First-Year Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Adult Students
    • Veterans and Military Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Academics
    • Associate Degrees
    • Bachelor’s Degrees
    • 2+2 Plan
    • Minors
  • Academic Services
    • Academic Advising
    • Campus Bookstore
    • Career Services
    • Disability Services
    • Information Technology Services
    • Learning Center
    • Media Commons
    • Nesbitt Library
    • Registrar
    • Student Success Services
  • Student Life
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Activities
    • Food Bank
    • Food Services
    • Housing Options
    • Health and Wellness
    • Personal Counseling
    • Legal Services
    • Police and Public Safety
  • Athletics
  • Continuing Education in Northeastern PA

Find Information For:

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Parents/Families
  • Current Students
  • Athletes
  • Alumni/Friends
  • Visitors
  • Community
  • Working Professionals
  • Faculty/Staff

Helpful Links

  • Countdown to Cap and Gown
  • What's Happening
  • Blue Screen
  • Directories
  • Campus Map
  • Directions
  • Course Bulletin
  • Nesbitt Library
  • Inclement Weather
  • PSU Alerts
  • Police & Public Safety
  • Employment

Connect With Us

  • instagram
  • facebook
  • youtube
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. The Friedman Observatory
three images of stars and galaxies taken from space

About the Telescope

the Friedman Observatory telescope

In 2003, as an anniversary gift to their parents, Rob Friedman and Anne Friedman-Glauber generously donated funds for the purchase of the Observatory’s current Meade 16" LX200 telescope.  (For details and specs of the telescope, visit Meade’s website.) Two inches bigger in diameter, this telescope gathers about 30% more light than our previous 14" Celestron.  It also includes “automatic GO TO capability to any of 145,000 objects in the onboard database, or to any RA and Dec.”

new telescope being hoisted into observatory by crane

Installation was an arduous task. Many parties took part in getting the telescope carefully mounted and installed. The first hurdle was to get the large and heavy optical tube into the 40-foot high dome. Many thanks to Conrad Electric Co. for donating their services and equipment to hoist the tube into the dome.

installing the new telescope

The concrete pillar on which the telescope is permanently mounted was carefully leveled to within about 1 mm by Paul Shedlock. To find true north, the old telescope was pointed at Polaris when it was nearly crossing the celestial meridian and a plumb bob was dropped from the front and back of the tube; then the dots were connected. This finding was confirmed by hanging a metal bar at exactly astronomical noon, that is, when the sun was exactly due south. This cast a shadow due north, which was then traced. The two methods matched remarkably well! Eventually this determination of north will be tested using the “Drift-method.” Astronomical noon was determined using The Sky Planetarium program and our time was synchronized with standard naval time.

installing the new telescope

The actual assembly of the telescope and its mount was done by Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s talented maintenance staff, headed by Paul Chocallo.

Academic Affairs

  • New Student Orientation
  • Global Programs
  • Undergraduate Research
  • High School Dual Enrollment
    • Dual Enrollment Application Process
    • Dual Enrollment Orientation & Registration
  • Reserve Officer Training Corps
  • The Friedman Observatory
    • About the Telescope
    • Astronomy Resources

Friedman Observatory

Primary Contact:
Jon Belanger
Observatory Assistant
email: [email protected]
phone: (240) 344-9736

Director:
Dr. Violet Mager
Associate Professor of Physics
office: Science Center 111
phone: (570) 675-9278
email: [email protected]

Friedman Observatory News

Pauline and Sidney Friedman (left photo) and Robert and Sidney Friedman (right photo).

About the Friedmans

Professor Tim Sichler and student Pablo Franco Almonte working with teammate Christopher Handgis to test a payload sensor

Yes, it IS rocket science!

The Orion Nebula, as taken from the Friedman Observatory

Students participate in research at the Friedman Observatory

See more Observatory news
Map of Pennsylvania showing Penn State’s 24 locations with Penn State Wilkes-Barre highlighted.

Penn State Wilkes‑Barre

Located on a scenic estate just 13 miles from Wilkes‑Barre, Penn State Wilkes‑Barre offers four‑year baccalaureate degree programs, two‑year associate degree programs, and a wide range of professional develop­ment oppor­tunities. Our small classes encourage close inter­action with professors who are committed to helping you be successful.
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • youtube
Give Now Visit Us Apply
  • This is Penn State
    • Chancellor’s Welcome
    • Campus Advisory Board
    • Campus Leadership
    • Mission/Vision/Values
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus History
    • Diversity
    • Sustainability
    • Strategic Communications
    • Contact Us
  • Admissions
    • Why Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
    • Visit Us
    • First-Year Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Adult Students
    • Veterans and Military Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Academics
    • Associate Degrees
    • Bachelor's Degrees
    • 2+2 Plan
    • Minors
  • Academic Services
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • Contact Us
    • Administrative Offices
    • Department Directory
    • Faculty & Staff Directory
    • Employment
  • Online Tools
    • Account Management
    • Canvas
    • Email (Office365)
    • ePortfolio
    • Kaltura
    • LionCash+
    • LionPATH
    • LinkedIn Learning
    • Sites
    • Starfish
    • TurnItIn
    • Voicemail
    • WorkLion
    • Zoom
  • Helpful Links
    • PSUAlerts
    • Blue Screen
    • Class Cancellations
    • Calendar of Events
    • Schedule of Courses
    • Nesbitt Library
    • Directions
    • Campus Map
    • Employment
  • In Case of Inclement Weather
  • Police & Public Safety
Penn State University
44 University Drive, Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612 (570) 675-2171

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State