It is located on the roof of the Jonsson-Rowland Science Center (seen below) and is used by members of the Rensselaer Astrophysical Society as well as astronomy students in laboratory exercises.

[1] The observatory's main dome contains a 16" Cassegrain Reflector, with a CCD camera and fully computerized controls.

The spectrograph has been used to catalog bright solar spectrum as part of an effort to create an online digital database for astrophysical research.

In 1980 the General Electric company donated the Boller and Chivens 16" Cassegrain telescope.

During 2006 there was a $70,000 refurbishment, in which the control system and electronics were revamped and the telescope optics collimated.