Castle Heights in Geneva in Ontario County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Smith Observatory
Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2025
1. Smith Observatory Marker
Discoveries Of Director
Dr. William R. Brooks
Erected 1932 by State Education Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Science & Medicine.
Location. 42° 52.329′ N, 77° 0.179′ W. Marker is in Geneva, New York, in Ontario County. It is in Castle Heights. It is at the intersection of Castle Street and Highland Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Castle Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 62 Castle Street, Geneva NY 14456, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York, specifically in Western New York, in the Finger Lakes, and in the Rochester Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kanadesaga (approx. 0.6 miles away); Kan-a-de-sa-ga (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Kan-a-de-sa-ga (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of Kanadesaga (approx. 0.6 miles away); Washington Street (approx. 0.9 miles away); Soldiers Sailors Memorial Library (approx. 0.9 miles away); Pulteney Land Office (approx. one mile away); Smith's Opera House (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Geneva.
Additional keywords. astronomy
Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2025
2. Smith Observatory Marker
Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2025
3. Smith Observatory Marker
Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2025
4. Smith Observatory
M.T. Myers & Son, Geneva, N.Y. (courtesy Geneva Historical Society), circa 1910
5. Smith Observatory and Residence of Professor Brooks
William Robert Brooks (June 11, 1844 May 3, 1921) was a British-born American astronomer, mainly noted as being one of the most prolific discoverers of new comets of all time, second only to Jean-Louis Pons.
Brooks' success at comet discovery was noticed by businessman William Smith, who, wishing to attract Brooks to Geneva, New York, built a new observatory and a home for Brooks' family. Brooks went on to become Director of the Smith Observatory at Hobart College, Geneva, New York, where he lectured and undertook his astronomical research. His observations at the Smith Observatory produced 16 new comets. - Geneva Historical Society
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 25, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. 5. submitted on April 26, 2025. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
