Rapid City observatory

Rapid City observatory, known locally as Hidden Valley Observatory, has opened its dome to the public on the edge of South Dakota's Black Hills National Forest since 1965.

About Rapid City observatory

Also called Hidden Valley Observatory, the site sits at 4715 Hidden Valley Road in northwest Rapid City, South Dakota, right on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest. It is owned and operated by the Black Hills Astronomical Society.

History

The Black Hills Astronomical Society opened the observatory to the public in 1965, and it has been welcoming stargazers to its dark South Dakota skies for more than 50 years since.

Telescopes & research

The main dome houses a 12.5-inch Newtonian reflecting telescope, the observatory's principal instrument for public viewing nights. The grounds also include an outdoor classroom and a dedicated observation field for group stargazing.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located at 4715 Hidden Valley Road in northwest Rapid City, South Dakota, on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest.

Visiting Rapid City observatory

The Black Hills Astronomical Society opens the observatory to the public on specific dates, with doors opening at 8:00 pm and no admission charge. Check the society's current schedule before you go, since public nights depend on the calendar and the weather.

See your named star from here

With its 12.5-inch reflector and dark Black Hills skies, Rapid City observatory is a great place to point a telescope at the exact coordinates of a star named through Star Register. Name a star for someone special, or browse the star catalogue to see what's already been named.