Ritter Astrophysical Research Center; Brooks Observatory
University of Toledo
2801 W. Bancroft St.
Toledo, Ohio 43606
(419) 530-2650
Email: rpbo@astro.utoledo.edu

The Ritter Observatory is a part of the Ritter Astrophysical Research Center, operated by the Department of Physics and Astronomy of The University of Toledo. This facility is used for Astrophysical research, including investigations of the sun, planets, stars, interstellar gas & dust, and galaxies. The telescope at Ritter Observatory telescope is an automated one-meter Ritchey-Chretien reflector used as part of its research and instructional programs, including a Ph.D. program. Ritter reaches out to the public with a planetarium program featuring a Spitz Model A3P planetarium projector in a 40-ft dome. The Ritter Astrophysical Research Center is operated by the Department of Physics and Astronomy of The University of Toledo as part of its research and instructional programs, the latter ranging from a Ph.D. program to public planetarium education. The Center’s creation was initiated through a substantial gift by George W. Ritter of Toledo, supported by contributions from several corporations and individuals. The Ritter Astrophysical Center was dedicated in October 1967.

The Center is located in Ritter Observatory which houses the Astronomy part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. In addition to providing offices for both the Astronomy faculty and graduate students, Ritter Observatory also houses a one-meter (39.4-inch) Ritchey-Chrétien reflector. The telescope is the first built to utilize the zero-expansion Cervit optics system. “The observatory is used mainly by department faculty, graduate and undergraduate students for research, however, on the first Friday of every month, after the evening planetarium program, the telescope is open to the public and is available for viewing the sky, weather permitting.”