Hastings College is one of the few higher education institutions with its own observatory!

The Clyde Sachtleben Observatory offers a roll-back roof that allows visitors to use four mid-size telescopes and ponder the universe with views of the moon, double stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. The observatory houses 14-, 10- and two 8-inch reflecting telescopes.

The Observatory is open to the public for free astronomy presentations and night sky viewings two Saturdays per month, weather permitting. See dates and times below. The observatory opens 30 minutes before the program start time and closes 90 minutes afterward.

Before your visit, call StarLine at 402.462.7378 for a message informing you of cancellations due to weather plus schedule changes and additions; the message is usually updated by 5 p.m.

facebook icon Observatory on Facebook.

For more, contact Bradley Peterson, the Observatory’s program director, at 402.461.7386 or bradley.peterson@hastings.edu.

Free presentation dates for 2024

Note that all presentations are made weather permitting and are subject to change. You can call StarLine at 402.462.7378 for a message informing you of cancellations due to weather plus schedule changes and additions; the message is usually updated by 5 p.m.

  • January 6, 20 – 7:30 pm
  • February 3, 17 – 7:30 pm
  • March 2, 16 – 8:30 pm
  • April 6, 20 – 9:00 pm 
  • May 4, 18 – 9:30 pm
  • June 1, 15 – 9:30 pm
  • July 13, 27 – 9:30 pm
  • August 10, 24 – 9:30 pm
  • September 14, 28 – 9:00 pm
  • October 12, 26 – 8:30 pm
  • November 9, 23 – 7:30 pm
  • December 7 – 7:30 pm

Directions to the Observatory

The Observatory is located at 4725 S. Wabash Ave., Hastings, Neb.
 
This is about 3 miles south of U.S. Highway 6 on Wabash Ave. (also known as County Rd. 10), on the east side of the road just before the pavement ends. See the map below or use this Google map or this iOS map.
 

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