Contact Us

General information: (617) 495-9059

Executive Director: Purvang Patel (617) 495-2907
Superintendent of Facilities: Charlie Hickey (617) 495-9238

Donations

Since the commissioning of the Great Refractor in 1843, the Harvard College Observatory has relied on individual philanthropic donations like yours. With your generous gift, you will continue to ensure our legacy of being at the forefront of scientific research and education while preserving our history. The “Harvard College Observatory Annual Fund” makes your gift immediately accessible to the broadest swath of the Observatory.

Donate Now!

Directions to 60 Garden Street

COVID-19 Update: the building will be locked at all hours and requires an ID to enter.

From Logan Airport: http://www.massport.com/logan/getti.html

Bus from the Harvard Square MBTA station:

Take the 72, 74, 75, or 78 bus from the upper bus level of Harvard Station and ask to be let off at the “observatory steps” on Concord Avenue [Concord Ave opp Buckingham St].
Climb the steps to the rear parking lot. For more information, visit the MBTA website.

By car:

From the northwest: Take Route 2 to the Alewife-Concord Rotary, follow Concord Avenue into Cambridge and cross Huron Avenue, turn left on Madison Street and then right into the HCO’s rear parking lot.
From Boston or to the south: Take Storrow or Memorial Drives to the Harvard Square exit (JFK Street), continue through the Square and up Mass. Ave. to turn left at Linnaean Street, which intersects Garden Street right at the front entrance driveway of the HCO.
From the north: Take 93 South to Memorial Drive and follow directions from above.
From the west: Take the Mass. Turnpike (US 90) to the Allston-Cambridge exit, cross the Charles River, and turn left on Memorial Drive immediately over the River Street Bridge. Then follow directions from above.

By Harvard Shuttle:

The Harvard Shuttle can be taken from the Square up Garden Street to the Quad (Express, Stadium, or Yard Express pending time of day)
The shuttle typically runs every 10-15 minutes during the week and will drop you off on the steps of the Currier House.
Walk out towards Linnean Street (where the shuttle drove in from), turn left towards the traffic lights and the Observatory will be straight ahead up the hill.
You can track all Harvard Shuttles online here.

Directions to the HCO Business Office (building map):

Enter the main entrance off Garden Street at Linnean Street.
Proceed right in the main lobby towards a stairwell.
After the stairwell, turn left and the HCO Business Office is located in B-115 on your left.