Fremont Peak Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Inside Fremont Peak State Park near San Juan Bautista, California, Fremont Peak Observatory shelters one of the largest telescopes available anywhere for public use.
About Fremont Peak Observatory
The observatory is operated by the Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA) under contract to the State of California, making it a rare case of a state park hosting a serious amateur research instrument for public benefit.
History
Built in 1986, the observatory's centrepiece, the Challenger telescope, was handmade by Kevin and Denni Medlock of the Eastbay Astronomical Society in the early 1980s and achieved first light the same year the building opened.
Telescopes & research
The Challenger telescope is a 30-inch diameter primary mirror Newtonian reflector with f/4.8 optics on an English cross-axis equatorial mount, ranking among the largest telescopes anywhere that the public can actually look through.
Location & getting there
The observatory sits within Fremont Peak State Park near San Juan Bautista, California, in the North America region, offering the darker skies typical of a state park setting away from city lights.
Visiting Fremont Peak Observatory
The FPOA runs public viewing programmes through the observatory; check its official website for the current schedule and park entry details before visiting.
See your named star from here
A 30-inch mirror is large enough to track down faint targets with ease, which makes this one of the better places to actually see a star you've named through Star Register. Find its coordinates in our catalogue and bring them to a public night.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
