Sunriver Observatory

Sunriver Observatory is the telescope facility at the heart of Sunriver, Oregon, run by the not-for-profit Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory and formally renamed the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver in July 2012.

About Sunriver Observatory

This entry refers to the observatory's telescope operation itself, closely tied to the wider Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory site, which together form one of the most telescope-rich public stargazing facilities in the country.

History

The observatory's telescope collection grew quickly in its early years: it had eleven telescopes as of 2011, expanding to twenty-three by 2013, thirteen of which were 10 inches (25 cm) or larger. It took on its current name, Oregon Observatory at Sunriver, in 2012.

Location & getting there

Sunriver sits in central Oregon's high desert, roughly 19 miles south of Bend, an area of pine forest and volcanic landscape that helps keep the night sky dark. Use the map and directions button on this page for the route.

Visiting Sunriver Observatory

Public stargazing and daytime programs are run through the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory; check its current hours and ticket prices before travelling, as sessions vary by season.

See your named star from here

A telescope collection this size — more than twenty instruments, several over 10 inches — is well equipped to seek out the exact right ascension and declination of a star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the full catalogue of named stars.