The Haggart Astronomical Observatory

Located at the John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center of Clackamas Community College

503-594-6044 for information

NEW: Are we open tonight? Check our blog to see!
(This is no longer on the phone message!)
HaggartObservatory.blogspot.com

We are a volunteer-operated observatory dedicated to providing opportunities for the public to view stars, planets and deep-space objects through our telescopes. We are located in Oregon City, close to the Portland metropolitan area.

We open the observatory whenever we have both a CLEAR NIGHT and a VOLUNTEER AVAILABLE. If there's a good, bright moon up, we may open even if there is some cloud cover. When a volunteer decides to open, he or she will post a message on our blog, giving the start and end time for that evening's viewing.

Visiting | What to Bring | Objects We View | Volunteering |

Visiting the Observatory:

Viewing is first-come, first-served. Please note:

• We can have a maximum of 8 visitors on the tower structure at a time.
• All visitors must sign a release to access the tower. If no one is downstairs to sign you in, please make some noise, and someone will come down.
• Anyone under 18 must have an adult along to sign a release for them; youngsters 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Our Telescopes:
Our instruments include a 24" Newtonian reflector, a 6 " refractor, a 13" Dobsonian reflector, and 11 x 80 astronomical binoculars.

The telescopes are housed atop a 45-foot tower, so visitors must be able to climb the spiral staircase to the tower deck as well as a ladder to the dome and a second ladder to the eyepiece of the larger telescope.

What You Can Expect to See:
The amount of viewing time and number of objects you can expect to see depends on the number of volunteers, sky conditions, and whether other visitors are waiting.

Typically, you can expect to view one object in the 24" reflector in the dome, and one in the 13" telescope or astronomical binoculars on the deck. If no one else is waiting, you may have more time on the tower.

The volunteer will choose objects to show, but if you have a request, let him or her know!

What to Bring:

Please dress for the weather - all viewing is open-air! Be sure to wear shoes suitable for climbing the stairs (the last flight is very steep and narrow).
Other useful items...

• Binoculars add to the richness of the night sky. (We have a few to loan out.)
• Water: Our only access to drinking water is the restroom faucets.
• Star Chart. Current sky charts are available online at Skymaps, Sky and Telescope, or Heavens Above. (We may have some available, too.)

Flashlights, Cameras, Cell Phones & other glowing things:
We avoid using white light in the observing area. It takes several minutes for eyes to adapt to the dark, and exposure to white light will "reset" your eyes and reduce your night vision. While on the tower, please keep flashlights off. Similarly, please do not open cell phones or take a flash photograph without asking the telescope operator first.

Youth group leaders:
you may wish to download our release form and fill it out before you arrive.

Donations:
We request, but do not require, a donation of $3 per person, which goes toward the purchase and maintenance of observing equipment and educational materials.

Objects we may view:

• Solar System:
  the Moon and any available planets; we also watch for flybys of the International Space Station and "Iridium Flare" satellites.
• Stars:
  constellations, double stars, bright stars and other notables such as red giants and blue supergiants
• Deep-sky objects:
  nebulae, open clusters, globular clusters, and galaxies

(Visit the "What's Up?" link for more information on these objects.)

Interested in Volunteering?
Haggart Observatory is operated entirely by volunteers; the more volunteers we have, the more viewing events we can support. Experience in observational astronomy a plus, but not required - we'll train!

Check out our Volunteering page! If you are interested, come on out on an open evening and introduce yourself, and we'll get you started.

[this page last updated 6/4/2010- kh]