Holt & Miller Observatory

Visit the Holt and Miller Observatory for a bit of rooftop sky gazing! The space provides views of the Philadelphia Skyline while our historic 10-inch Zeiss Refracting Telescope provides views of the moon, most planets, star clusters, nebulae, a few galaxies, and even our closest star, the Sun.

The Holt and Miller Observatory is operated and maintained by The Franklin Institute’s Chief Astronomer, Derrick Pitts, along with the Institute’s knowledgeable staff.

Solar Viewing: The Holt and Miller Observatory is one of the few observatories in the country to provide optically safe, real-time, direct observation of solar activity such as sunspots, flares, and prominences.

Things to Do and See at the Observatory (weather permitting):

• Stargaze with 10-inch Zeiss Refractor Telescope: planets, stars, star clusters, nebulae, and a even few galaxies await!
• Visit the nearest star—Our Sun: see what real sunspots and flares look like without the need for shades!
• Travel through our Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and Venus are often stops on this interplanetary tour!