Chico Community Observatory

Chico Community Observatory, also known as the Anita Ingrao Observatory, is a free, volunteer-run public observatory in Upper Bidwell Park, Chico, California.

About Chico Community Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by the Chico Area Recreation & Park District (CARD) as a non-profit facility funded by donations and staffed by volunteers. It's named in honour of Anita Ingrao, who co-directed the observatory from 1951 until 2014.

History

Chico Community Observatory was founded in 2001, giving the Chico community a dedicated public stargazing venue within Upper Bidwell Park.

Telescopes & research

Visitors can look through two 14-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, instruments capable of revealing planets, star clusters, nebulae and more to the public.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits within Upper Bidwell Park in Chico, California, part of Star Register's North America region, offering a natural, open setting away from the densest part of town.

Visiting Chico Community Observatory

Entry is free. The observatory is open to the public Friday through Sunday, from sunset until between 9 and 11pm, depending on the season, run entirely by volunteers.

See your named star from here

With two 14-inch telescopes trained on the night sky most weekends, Chico Community Observatory is a great place to actually find a star you've named. A named star from Star Register comes with exact coordinates its volunteers or any stargazer can use. Name a star or browse the catalogue of stars already named.