Pine Mountain Observatory near Bend Oregon

[vorblesnak]

I am not sure this the right spot for this but I figure Dave will let me know if he does not want it here. I just wanted tip folks off about a great free observing site I have been going to.

Pine Mountain Observatory east of Bend Oregon is open to the public over the summer. There is a small camp ground, a 24 inch RC that is open for public viewing and plenty of flat space for your own scope. No charge and even the camp ground is free, though it is primitive. You will need to bring your own water and be prepared to take your garbage with you.

I have gone up there a couple of times this spring and gotten some great viewing. There is a volunteer staff on hand over the weekends that operate the facility scopes and give presentations on astronomical topics.

Here is their web page ..

http://pmo-sun.uoregon.edu/

I was surprised there were not more people coming up. The staff tells me gas prices seem to have put a dent in their visitor numbers. It was fine with me I enjoyed myself under some great skys.

David Davis
Toledo, OR 97391

[dgavin]

I love Pine mountain, although I don't visit often. Definately a great place for a veiw. I still remember my first visit to it when I was about 12. (30 years ago. . .) Back then it wasn't well known about, and there were not volunteers to staff it on the weekends. Two students from OSU were staffing the place and gave us a tour. One of then had a UV detector hooked up to the 32 inch scope and was watching a suspected Black Hole/Red Giant pair (I think it was Sirus?)

Visted a few years ago, but it was before the volunteers were staffing it that year (Early May). The campground was still covered in snow, and over all it was a fun day visit even without the scopes being open for tours.

It's definately a great place for star viewing.

[glasspusher]

I checked out their web site and it does look like a great place to go for dark skies. I couldn't make out what kind of ground they had for setting up a scope, whether its dirt, rocks or what.

Mark

[vorblesnak]

I checked out their web site and it does look like a great place to go for dark skies. I couldn't make out what kind of ground they had for setting up a scope, whether its dirt, rocks or what.

Mark


On their web site are a couple of camera views, one is fixed, taken from the dome of the 24 inch and one is somewhat active kind of a slo mo real time. That surface you see in those shots are where you can set up your own scope. It is 3/4 minus gravel. Very smooth and easy setup.

For you radio astronomers .. last time I was up there they had a five foot dish set up looking south.

David Davis
Toledo, OR 97391

[vorblesnak]

I checked out their web site and it does look like a great place to go for dark skies. I couldn't make out what kind of ground they had for setting up a scope, whether its dirt, rocks or what.

Mark


On their web site are a couple of camera views, one is fixed, taken from the dome of the 24 inch and one is somewhat active kind of a slo mo real time. That surface you see in those shots are where you can set up your own scope. It is 3/4 minus gravel. Very smooth and easy setup.

For you radio astronomers .. last time I was up there they had a five foot dish set up looking south.

David Davis
Toledo, OR 97391