Stony Ridge Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
High in the Angeles National Forest north of Mt. Wilson, California, Stony Ridge Observatory has been run by and for amateur astronomers since 1957.
About Stony Ridge Observatory
Built at an elevation of about 1,730 metres near Charlton Flat in Los Angeles County, the observatory centres on a 760 mm (30-inch) Newtonian-Cassegrain telescope that, when installed, ranked among the largest in California and one of the largest amateur instruments in the United States. The telescope can be used at any of four Newtonian foci or at its Cassegrain focus, and the site also has a secondary 12-inch Cassegrain telescope, CCD cameras, and computer equipment.
History
Since its construction in 1957, the observatory has been the site of real research: astronomers there discovered the asteroids 10168 Stony Ridge, 144633 Georgecarroll, and 327030 Alanmaclure, and its telescope contributed to an extensive lunar photography and mapping project run with Lockheed that helped decide the touchdown site for the Apollo lunar lander. In September 2009 the Station Fire came close to destroying the site, causing only minor damage to an outbuilding, and a restoration completed in 2017 reinstalled the telescope's original tracking drives, added a modern "go-to" pointing system, and re-aluminised its mirrors.
Location & getting there
Stony Ridge Observatory sits on a remote, restricted-access site in the Angeles National Forest north of Mt. Wilson, near Charlton Flat, at roughly 1,730 metres elevation in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County.
Visiting Stony Ridge Observatory
The facility includes an administration building with a small galley and bunkroom alongside the telescope dome, though access is restricted; check the official website before planning any visit.
See your named star from here
The 30-inch telescope that has tracked asteroids and mapped the Moon from this ridge could just as easily be aimed at the right ascension and declination on your own star certificate. Browse the full star catalogue to find your star.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
