Rendering of new planned observatory

Observatory Groundbreaking

Official Groundbreaking for KU's new Tombaugh Observatory.
Friday, October 9, 2026

Details are below!

Description:

Join us for the Official Groundbreaking of KU's new Tombaugh Observatory -- a new home for the historic, 140-year-old, six-inch Clark Refractor.  The new observatory is a joint venture between KU Architecture & Design's Studio 804, as well as the KU Physics & Astronomy Department, and supported by generous donors.

We invite past and present students, colleagues, alumni, and friends to join us on Friday, October 9th at noon to help celebrate. Stick around: refreshments 12:30-1pm immediately afterward, followed next (at 1pm in Malott 3005) by NASA Astronaut Loral O'Hara speaking in-person at our weekly Astronomy Seminar.

Email Prof. Ian Crossfield (ianc@ku.edu) with questions; no RSVP needed!

Location & Time:  

  • Friday, October 9th:
    • 12-12:30pm: Groundbreaking outside by Slawson Hall (see map below)
    • 12:30-1pm: Refreshments and social time in Slawson G192 (Beren Auditorium)
    • 1-2pm: Astronaut Loral O'Hara speaks, in Malott Hall 3005
Map of observatory location at KU

 

Logistics / Transportation:

  • Bus: KU & Malott Hall is served by many local bus routes, as described at the Lawrence Transit Website
  • Bike: Malott Hall also has numerous bicycle racks located around the building
  • Car: Find more details, including parking-lot maps, at the KU Parking Website .  

 

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