Desert Eagle Observatory

Desert Eagle Observatory is a private amateur observatory near Benson, Arizona, run by one of the most prolific minor-planet hunters in modern astronomy.

About Desert Eagle Observatory

Desert Eagle Observatory is a private amateur astronomical facility near Benson, Arizona, carrying the IAU observatory code 333. It sits in the high desert of southeastern Arizona, a region prized by amateur astronomers for its clear, dry skies.

History

The observatory is operated by Canadian amateur astronomer William Kwong Yu Yeung, whose first asteroid discovery from the site was 32605 Lucy. Since then, Desert Eagle has become one of the most productive private observatories in the world for finding comets, asteroids and near-Earth objects - by June 2017, the Minor Planet Center credited the site with more than 1,569 discoveries, and Yeung's personal tally from the observatory has passed 1,500 minor planets.

Telescopes & research

Desert Eagle's work focuses on systematic sky surveys aimed at finding and tracking comets, asteroids and near-Earth objects - the class of small bodies that pass close enough to Earth's orbit to be worth monitoring. Its long discovery record has made it a notable contributor to the Minor Planet Center's catalogues.

Location & getting there

The site lies near Benson, Arizona, in the North America region on Star Register's map, in the same broad stretch of Sonoran Desert that hosts several of the country's most active amateur asteroid-hunting stations.

Visiting Desert Eagle Observatory

As a private research site, Desert Eagle Observatory does not offer public tours or advertised opening hours. Check the Minor Planet Center's listing or local Arizona astronomy clubs for the latest information before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Desert Eagle's telescopes are built to track precise celestial coordinates - exactly the kind of right ascension and declination that comes with every star named through Star Register. Choose a naming package or browse the catalogue to find a star of your own.