Pacific Northwest Regional Observatory

The Pacific Northwest Regional Observatory stands at Wallula Gap in the Horse Heaven Hills of southeastern Washington, near the Columbia River, and centres on a telescope that has travelled the state before settling here.

About Pacific Northwest Regional Observatory

The observatory is owned by the Alliance for the Advancement of Science Through Astronomy. Its main instrument is an 0.8-metre Cassegrain reflecting optical telescope, and as of 2007 it was described as the largest, most powerful optical research-grade telescope in Washington State.

History

The telescope was originally installed in 1971 by Battelle at Rattlesnake Mountain above Richland, Washington. It was dismantled in 2009 and restored at Columbia Basin College in Richland around 2010 to 2011. Construction of its new home at Braden Research Farm, owned by Whitman College, broke ground in 2011, and the telescope's mirror was placed there in November 2012.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at Wallula Gap in the Horse Heaven Hills, close to the Columbia River in southeastern Washington, part of the North America region on Star Register's map. The rural, elevated setting suits its research role.

Visiting Pacific Northwest Regional Observatory

As a regional research facility, visiting arrangements are best confirmed directly with the Alliance for the Advancement of Science Through Astronomy before making the trip.

See your named star from here

An 0.8-metre research telescope like this one is more than capable of resolving a star given its coordinates, which is exactly what you get when you name a star through Star Register. Name a star, or explore the catalogue to browse stars already claimed.