Cedar Glen Observatory

Cedar Glen Observatory is an astronomical facility in Cedar Glen, California, near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains, United States.

About Cedar Glen Observatory

Sitting at an elevation of about 1,530 metres, the observatory holds International Astronomical Union designation code U78. It changed ownership in 2021 and continues to operate as a working research site. Its position on the northeast side of the San Bernardino range helps it avoid the Pacific marine layer overcast that often affects lower, coastal-facing sites.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's main instrument is a Celestron C14 "Fastar" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope housed in a 2.5-metre Observadome, paired with a QHY9 CCD camera giving a field of view of 67 by 89 arcminutes. The facility includes a 4.5 square metre dome connected by a spiral staircase to a 9.3 square metre heated control room. It was originally set up for minor planet observations and is now fully automated, controlled via theSkyX software with dome rotation synced to the telescope through LesveDome. Under good conditions the site offers a visual limiting magnitude of 6.0 to 7.0 and a telescopic limiting magnitude of 14 to 16.

Location & getting there

Cedar Glen sits in the San Bernardino Mountains near Lake Arrowhead, California, at an elevation that keeps it above much of the coastal marine layer. Use the map above for exact coordinates and directions.

Visiting Cedar Glen Observatory

As a fully automated research facility focused on minor planet observations, it is not set up as a public visitor attraction. Check the observatory's website for the latest information before planning any visit.

See your named star from here

A remotely operated dome that tracks minor planets across the sky is a fitting reminder that any star, including one named for someone you love, can be located once you know its coordinates. Name a star to get its exact position, then explore the catalogue to see it for yourself.