It was built in 1914 and named after the former head of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy at the university, Prof. John M. Van Vleck.

Wesleyan participates in a consortium of universities that operate the WIYN .9-meter telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.

Students (undergraduate and graduate) and faculty have the opportunity to spend time in Arizona doing research with the telescope.

Wesleyan also is a member of the Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium (KNAC).

[5] A 6 inch aperture refractor was acquired by Wesleyan University in 1836, and this was the largest telescope in the United States until at least 1840.