Adventure exists in every corner of the Hoosier State. If you think you’ve seen everything in Indiana, it’s time for you to check out this abandoned observatory in Bloomington.
Whether you love space, history, or hiking, this exploration will be right up your alley. Check it out:
From the dawn of our species, humans have been turning their eyes to the skies in awe and wonder. Pondering the stars, the moon, the sun, and all that space in between is what has lead us to build incredible observatories and research centers across the globe.
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Indiana is no stranger to the quest for understanding what exists outside our planet. In a remote part of southern Indiana, there is an abandoned space observatory that was built more than 80 years ago to help locals see the night sky in a new way.
Google/jalin haung
This two-story dome was built in the mid 1930s of brick and wood. A dense grove of trees hides it from view of the street, but it is not difficult to find.
Google/Patrick Gray
The ceiling of this abandoned observatory is on a track that once allowed the dome to be moved in order to find the best views of the sky. As you can see, it has been damaged over the years, yet still it stands to attract hikers and history buffs alike.
Google/Cathy Adler There are just two rooms inside, one on the first floor and the other just above. The upper room is where the four ton telescope was contained, though all equipment has been removed.
As the town of Bloomington grew over the years, the location of this space observatory was no longer ideal. In order to get magnificent views of the stars at night, there must be as close to zero light pollution as possible.
Google/Tuba Tim Light pollution is when the lights from a town or city brighten the night sky so much that stars are not easily seen.
The Knightridge Space Observatory is located at 4000 E Lampkins Ridge Rd., Bloomington, IN 47401, on the corner of Knightridge Road.
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Google/jalin haung
Google/Patrick Gray
Google/Cathy Adler
There are just two rooms inside, one on the first floor and the other just above. The upper room is where the four ton telescope was contained, though all equipment has been removed.
Google/Tuba Tim
Light pollution is when the lights from a town or city brighten the night sky so much that stars are not easily seen.
For more like this, check out these five hikes in Indiana that lead to some incredible pieces of history.
If you’ve ever been past this abandoned observatory, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.
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