Contact Information
1602 Observatory Dr.
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-3141
The Goldendale Observatory houses a 24.5 inch reflecting telescope (one of the largest apertures in the USA available for public use), in addition to a secondary dome which houses an eight-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain reflecting telescope. The facility has twelve portable telescopes and special camera accessories available to the public and a lecture room which contains astronomical displays. The park also has restroom facilities, a science library and a parking lot with a capacity for 30 cars.Activities at the park include hands-on observing through telescopes, interpretive lectures and viewing scientific displays. There are two program schedules for summer and winter.
From April through September:
AFTERNOON PROGRAM (WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY; 2 P.M. - 5 P.M.)
Continuous tours of display areas and telescopes followed by observation of sunspots, prominences, a bright planet like Venus and one of the brighter stars in the sky.
EVENING PROGRAM (8 P.M. - MIDNIGHT)
8:00 Doors open
8:05 Welcome and Orientation
8:15 History of Goldendale Observatory
8:20 Demonstration of setup of 24 2 inch telescope
8:30 Bright star observation
9:15 Moon and/or planet observation
10:15 The Stars Tonight
10:30 Tour of the constellations
10:45 Nebula, star cluster, and galaxy observation
Midnight Gates close
October through March:
AFTERNOON PROGRAM (SATURDAY - SUNDAY; 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.)
Continuous tours of display areas and telescopes followed by observation of sunspots, prominences, a bright planet like Venus and one of the brighter stars in the sky.
EVENING PROGRAM (SATURDAY; 7 P.M. - 9 P.M.)
7:00 Doors open
7:05 Welcome and Orientation
7:15 History of Goldendale Observatory
7:20 Demonstration of setup of 24 2 inch telescope
7:30 Moon and/or planet observation
8:15 The Stars Tonight
8:30 Tour of the constellations
8:45 Nebula, star cluster, and galaxy observation
11:00 Gates close
In addition, guests can schedule programs by appointment. Please call (509) 773-3141 to schedule a visit Wednesday through Friday, from 1 PM - 5 PM and from 7 PM - 11 PM, or Sunday, 7 PM - 11 PM.
Influenced by the Pacific Ocean and surrounding mountains, this area is characterized by a generally wet and temperate climate. Winters are cool and cloudy with rain and some snow. Maximum winter temperatures are normally in the mid- to high 40s with minimum temperatures in the mid 30s. Summers are warm and relatively dry with maximum and minimum temperatures in the mid 70s and low 50s, respectively.
