Bradley Observatory & Delafield Planetarium, Decatur

About Bradley Observatory & Delafield Planetarium

Bradley Observatory & Delafield Planetarium on the Agnes Scott College campus in Decatur welcomes visitors to explore astronomy through telescopes and planetarium shows. The facility features an artful plaza representing the solar system and galaxy, where guests can view the night sky through small telescopes. The observatory's signature instrument is the 30-inch Lewis H. Beck telescope, housed beneath a large dome. The 70-seat Delafield Planetarium inside simulates the night sky using a mechanical ZEISS star projector, allowing visitors to experience constellations and celestial objects indoors. The building also contains a classroom with a stage, a library and seminar room, a darkroom, and a student computer lab. The observatory serves as both a teaching facility and a public resource for amateur astronomers and those curious about the heavens.