The Harvard College Observatory

The Harvard College Observatory, founded in 1839, is a renowned astronomical research institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has contributed significantly to our understanding of stars, galaxies, and the universe through the collection and analysis of astronomical data, including historic sky photographs. The observatory has played a key role in developing star catalogs and pioneering photographic techniques in astronomy. It also served as a training center for future astronomers and helped democratize astronomy by making vast collections of celestial images accessible for scientific study. Today, it continues to support astronomical research and education.