The Ward Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Wanganui, New Zealand. It was built in 1901 and is administered by the Wanganui Astronomical Society. It was named after Joseph Thomas Ward (1862-1927), the Society's first president, and longtime director of the observatory.[1]. A later stalwart of the Society was Charles Whitmore Babbage, grandson of Charles Babbage.[2]
The observatory houses a 24 cm telescope, the largest unmodified refractor telescope in use in New Zealand.
Located in Cooks Gardens, access to the observatory is from St Hill Street.
Public viewing is on Friday evenings from after dark, or by arrangement with the Astronomical Society. School groups by appointment.