Red Buttes Observatory

South of Laramie, Wyoming, at over 7,300 feet above sea level, Red Buttes Observatory gives the University of Wyoming a high, dark-sky base for research astronomy.

About Red Buttes Observatory

Red Buttes Observatory (RBO) is owned and operated by the University of Wyoming and was founded in 1994. It sits about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Laramie at an elevation of 7,369 feet, well placed to take advantage of Wyoming's high, clear skies.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's main instrument is a 0.6 meter (24 inch) telescope built by DFM Engineering, paired with a 1024x1024 imaging camera and a near-infrared camera. A second, smaller telescope built by Orion is mounted alongside the main instrument. Researchers at RBO have used the site to monitor Cepheid variable stars and to carry out follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts.

Location & getting there

At 7,369 feet in the high plains south of Laramie, Wyoming, the observatory benefits from thin, dry air and skies far from major city lights, ideal conditions for its research program.

Visiting Red Buttes Observatory

As a university research facility, Red Buttes Observatory does not keep general public opening hours. Visits are typically arranged through the University of Wyoming, so check with the university before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

A research telescope built to catch the flicker of variable stars and the afterglow of gamma-ray bursts sits under some of the clearest skies in the country. Name a star of your own and track it any night using the coordinates in the catalogue.