Visiting
Visiting the Pine Mountain Observatory
We love having the general public come and visit us during our public nights from late spring through early fall. Select Friday/Saturday nights, late May – September, we invite folks to look through the telescopes and ask questions! Our 2024 public nights will be posted after the new year.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- When To Arrive at PMO?
- How Much Does it Cost?
- Where is Pine Mountain Observatory?
- Is there a place to camp overnight?
- What precautions are recommended?
- Why Red Lights?
- Can I Bring my Dog?
Note: Please do not use comments on this page to request tours. Call the PMO phone number instead, and leave a message if there is no answer.
When To Arrive at PMO
Post sunset is a good arrival time. Arriving after 10:00 p.m. is not recommended. Depending on conditions or turnout telescopes may be shut down or put away by 11:00 p.m. or earlier, however on clear moonless nights the 24-inch telescope will normally be open until midnight, We regret that it’s usually not practical to open or re-open telescope viewing late at night if initially poor weather conditions improve, but groups camping can inquire in advance.
How Much Does it Cost?
To defray expenses and improve our outreach program, we ask a $5.00 donation per person. Donation boxes are provided in the welcome center and telescope domes. The fee for group tours on non-public nights is $200 for the first 20 persons and $5.00 per person over 20. Private tours are now offered only to a limited number of school and educational groups. Other groups should plan on joining our regular weekend tours. Weather-related cancellations/rescheduling are allowed with notice by the early afternoon of the tour date. If you would like to donate to Pine Mountain Observatory, click HERE. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!
Where is Pine Mountain Observatory?
PMO is located 34 miles southeast of Bend, in Central Oregon. Take State Highway 20 east from Bend, toward Burns. 26 miles from Bend, just beyond the tiny Millican store (CLOSED) turn right (south) on the dirt road and follow it to the top of Pine Mountain, about 8 miles. This drive requires about an hour from Bend. Be sure you have enough fuel to return to Bend and be sure to bring warm clothing, food and water, as there is usually no food or water service onsite.
Google Map to Pine Mountain Observatory
What can I Expect When I Visit Pine Mountain Observatory?
After parking, walk past the kiosk and go to the greeting center/gift shop. Here you will be given information concerning the evening’s activities and how to proceed. please be sure to ask us your questions about astronomy, about the PMO site, and about what sky objects will be featured during your visit.
Shortly after sunset, viewing of the moon (if above the horizon) and bright planets begins, clear skies permitting. As the sky darkens, tour guides show visitors objects through the various telescopes. Tour guides also point out a variety of celestial objects, including constellations, visible with the naked eye.
To enhance your experience, tour guides explain in detail about what you see. Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. Our 24-inch telescope is the prime visual instrument for visitor viewing. [Previously it had a CCD camera attached to a “piggybacked” 8-inch telescope to create images. A number of these images have been posted on the blog.] Often, several smaller portable telescopes will be available nearby. The 32-inch telescope down the path to the east was previously used for research work, but is now out of service. A robotically operated 14-inch telescope has been installed in a new smaller dome near the building housing the 32-inch telescope. The “robo” scope is equipped with a research camera, and so is not available for visual observing.
Once again, check in at the greeting center/gift shop for a selection of souvenirs and educational items. We plan to offer a free handout sheet about general astronomy, as well as projects that you can do to observe the sky. Depending on available volunteers, the greeting center may be open for only a short time, and will usually close by 10 p.m., so arrive accordingly. If it’s closed when you arrive, walk directly up the hill to the 24-inch telescope, avoid the use of any bright lights. (See “Why Red Lights?” below.)
When skies are clear, PMO guides may stay up all night viewing! Frequently, they set up their personal telescopes for visitor use. Some portable scopes are as large or larger than the ones in the domes! Amateur astronomers are welcome to bring their own telescopes and binoculars; electrical power is available if needed. If you are bringing up your own viewing equipment, please arrive well before dusk to get set up. Please contact us in advance if you will need to drive inside the gate; vehicle access for telescope setup/removal may not be possible at night.
Is There a Place to Camp Overnight?
Yes, a primitive Forest Service Campground, open on a first-come-first-served basis is located just across the road from PMO.. The camping area consists of four drive in sites that can hold trailers up to 27 feet in length, and there are 10 “hike in” sites for tent camping. There are no camping fees. Campground use regulations are the same as any National Forest Camp and are posted. It has one outhouse, no power hookups, water or trash services. Please “pack it out.” Open fires are regulated by danger levels set by the Forest Service. Fire restrictions are posted in the campground and along the road just past the 3rd cattle guard on the way up. Don’t forget to bring water to drink and extra water to douse campfires.
Please note that the nearest hotels, gas and other services are in Bend, approximately an hour drive from the Observatory.
What Precautions are Recommended?
PMO is at an elevation of 6,300 feet, therefore temperatures can drop near or below freezing, even on summer nights. Please bring warm clothing.
The buildings are separated by natural mountain terrain and stairs, and the buildings contain stairs. Please wear protective footwear and expect to climb steps. You should bring a SMALL flashlight to help you find your way in the dark; a red colored shield will be required to protect everyone’s night vision. Red cellophane and rubber bands or tape will be available to cover your flashlight. Please no white lights after dark (unless the weather turns bad) and no flash photography after dark.
We welcome children (grade school and up), but small children and infants will probably not be comfortable in this environment. Children should be asked not to wear shoes with lights. We’ll try to have some tape suitable for covering shoe lights if needed.
Please do not enter the fenced-off area near the 32-inch telescope dome except as part of a guided tour. There are some steep slopes in that area, and the telescope(s), including the new “robo” scope in the smaller white dome, may be in use for research.
PMO is a smoke-free University of Oregon campus. Please smoke only in the campground, following any posted Forest Service rules. During the dry season, smoking may only be allowed inside vehicles.
No dogs are allowed on the grounds of PMO when the observatory is open to the public. This policy will be strictly enforced on Friday and Saturday nights during our open house hours. Thank you for your understanding!
Why Red Lights?
In the dark, the pupils of your eyes open up to admit more light, and your retina also becomes more sensitive. This is what gives you “night vision” so you can see faint objects on the ground and in the sky. If the eyes encounter a white light, the pupils close down again and may take twenty minutes or more to fully open, and for your retina to regain full sensitivity. At Pine Mountain, we are very protective of night vision. Do not operate any white lights on the hill while observing is in progress. We have red cellophane that you can affix to the front of white flashlights with rubber bands and/or tape. Gentle red light aimed down will allow you to see your way around, but will not trigger the pupil sensor.
Other tips: when you arrive on the mountain, turn off your headlights as soon as you park, and do not turn them on again until you are ready to pull out. Keep your smartphone put away (or use well away from telescopes); the screen is actually quite bright in the dark. If your children have sneakers with lights, leave them at home (the shoes, not the kids).
Can I Bring my Dog?
No dogs are allowed on the grounds of PMO when the observatory is open to the public. This policy will be strictly enforced on Friday and Saturday nights during our open house hours. Thank you for your understanding!
For Information/Questions or to schedule group visits:
Call 541-382-8331 or email Alton Luken, Operations Manager, aluken@uoregon.edu.