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Welcome to Pine Mountain Observatory!
Pine Mountain Observatory, located 34 miles southeast of Bend, is perched atop a mountain at an elevation of 6,300 feet. The observatory’s location is well placed to make the most of the dark skies that the Eastern Oregon high desert provides.
The observatory is operated by the University of Oregon Department of Physics under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest. The observatory’s primary function is research and other astronomical observations, including basic and advanced scientific research. However education at all levels is also an important function and objective of the observatory.
What do we do?
We’re a gateway to the heavens nestled in the Deschutes National Forest, east of Bend, Oregon. Owned and operated by the University of Oregon, we love teaching folks of all ages about our place in the universe during our spring and summer outreach nights.
Come check us out!
Visiting
Tours may be available during the week by advance appointment, however, these tours are now limited to school and other educational groups.
The mid-week tours are conducted by the same observatory staff and volunteer amateur astronomers who conduct the regular weekend tours. The observatory also conducts a research science camp during the summer, bringing astronomers and students from all around the Western U.S. to teach and participate in programs.
Volunteer
Observatory tour guides provide assistance looking through a variety of different telescopes, from small portable scopes often used by amateurs, up to research-grade telescopes installed at PMO, including especially the 24-inch Cassegrain reflector which was installed at PMO in 1967! Volunteer tour guides also educate visitors about the various sky objects observed, discuss current topics and technologies used in modern astronomy and cosmology, and answer visitor questions.
Gallery
We welcome you to share your images taken on the mountain! Please send them to Alton Luken, Operations Manager, Pine Mountain Observatory.