Lake of the Woods Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Lake of the Woods observatory sits within Lake of the Woods, a private residential community in Locust Grove, Orange County, Virginia.
About Lake of the Woods observatory
The observatory is associated with the Lake of the Woods community rather than a public astronomy institution, and we don't have confirmed detail on an operator, telescopes, or founding date. It's also tracked as a local reference point for observing conditions in the area.
Location & getting there
Locust Grove lies in the Virginia Piedmont, a rolling, rural stretch of the state a couple of hours from Washington, D.C. The surrounding countryside is less built up than the D.C. suburbs, which typically means darker night skies.
Visiting Lake of the Woods observatory
Because the site sits inside a private residential community, public access may be limited. We don't have confirmed visiting hours or public tour information - check with the community or search current listings before planning a trip.
See your named star from here
Wherever you view the night sky from, the coordinates on a Star Register certificate stay the same. Name a star for someone special, then use the catalogue to find its position before your next stargazing trip.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.