Goldendale Observatory State Park

Our Clear Sky Chart predicts upcoming sky conditions and may not indicate exact conditions. Click on the Sky Chart for additional information about how it works.

GOSP To Offer Free Days

During Martin Luther King Jr. weekend the days of January 14, 2012 (Saturday) and January 15, 2012 (Sunday) will be FREE days. On those two days the Discover Pass will NOT be required for admission to the afternoon and evening sessions. Come and enjoy the park facilities for free on these days. Other free days for 2012 are listed below.

March 18 - Washington State Parks 99th birthday weekend.
June 9 - National Get Outdoors Day.
September 29 - National Public Lands Day.
November 10 and November 11 - Veterans Day Weekend.

The Goldendale Observatory Interpretive Center is located on a hilltop North of Goldendale, Washington. It is a unique facility because it caters to the general public with programs designed to educate the novice as well as the experienced star gazer. They have a number of telescopes including a 24.5 inch that is used in the evenings for public viewing sessions. There is also a library for in house study of astronomy. The facility is run by the Washington State Parks Department. Begun on July 1, 2011, admission to the Goldendale Observatory State Park is via a Discover Pass. You can find out more information on this by visiting their website or by visiting the Washington State Parks website.

Steve Stout serves as the facility supervisor and is a very knowledgeable amateur astronomer and friend of mine. He gives an interesting talk before each session and keeps the public updated on the latest happenings in the cosmos. Enjoy the Clear Sky Chart above and the weather link below. Keep in mind these are only predictions and weather conditions can change rapidly. The blue background color of this webpage is from an image taken at 6300' Table Mountain near Ellensburg.

Click on image for more weather information

Historical Background

The observatory is the result of the efforts of four men, M.W. McConnell, John Marshall, Don Conner and O.W. VanderVelden who built the 24.5 inch telescope. These men offered to donate the telescope to the City of Goldendale on the condition that a building be provided to house it. Funds for the building were provided by a federal grant, and the observatory was dedicated October 13, 1973. Welcome sign outside gate

The Goldendale Observatory Corporation, a non-profit group led by a volunteer board of directors, leased the observatory from the City of Goldendale until December 1980, when the State Parks Commission purchased the site. From January 1981 to July 1981, an interim agreement between the Commission and the corporation operated the observatory. The Commission assumed full operation on July 1, 1981, and the corporation board now acts in an advisory capacity. A much more detailed history of the observatory is here. Enjoy your visit and take your time and see everything the Goldendale Observatory State Park has to offer.

Observatory Exact Location

Latitude - 45 degrees, 50 minutes, 20.104 seconds
Longitude - 120 degrees, 48 minutes, 49.787 seconds
Elevation - 2100 feet above sea level

How to get to the Goldendale Observatory

Coming from the North - As you approach Goldendale on 97, look for a sign that says Goldendale Observatory next right Take the first exit into Goldendale (E Broadway)(142). Go one mile to the four-way stop, turn right, go North 0.7 mile to a fork in the road. Take the right fork, stay on the paved road and continue 0.7 mile up hill to the Observatory parking lot. See the map below.

Coming from the South - As you approach Goldendale on 97, look for a sign that says Goldendale Observatory next left. Take the last exit into Goldendale (E Broadway)(142). Rest of directions same as those above. See the map below.

Summer Afternoon Program

April - September
Wednesday through Sunday, 2PM - 5PM
Admission via Discover Pass - Donations accepted

The afternoon sessions are held from 2:00 to 5:00 PM with solar viewing, observing Venus through the large telescope for much of the year and astronomy themed displays. An overview of the afternoon program is given below.

Summer Evening Program

April - September
Wednesday through Sunday, 8PM - Midnight
Admission via Discover Pass - Donations accepted

The Goldendale Observatory's Summer hours from April 1st to September 30th are Wednesday through Sunday. Evening sessions are held from 8:00 to Midnight. The evening session gives visitors a chance to view celestial objects through the eyepiece of some of the observatory's telescopes, including the 24.5 inch Cassegrain.

The evening session starts at 8:00 PM and those arriving later will miss part of the interpretive program, which will not be repeated that evening. You do not need to make a reservation to attend the public sessions at the observatory, but if you have a large group coming, (10 or more) it is best to call ahead and let Steve know about your group size, needs etc. Several large groups showing up on the same evening could overcrowd the facility. An overview of the evening program is given below.

Winter Afternoon Program

October - March
Friday through Sunday, 2PM - 5PM
Admission via Discover Pass - Donations accepted

The afternoon sessions are held from 2:00 to 5:00 PM with solar viewing, observing Venus through the large telescope from much of the year and astronomy themed displays. An overview of the afternoon program is given below.

Winter Evening Program

October - March
Friday through Sunday, 7PM - 10PM
Admission via Discover Pass - Donations accepted

Winter evening hours from Oct 1st to March 31st are Friday through Sunday from from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. Contact the Observatory for more information. Plan on visiting this fine facility in the future and enjoy a family outing under the stars. An overview of the evening program is given below.

January Tour of the Universe

By Stephen R. Stout, Interpretive Specialist at Goldendale Observatory

Goldendale, Washington - Winter hours are now in effect at the Observatory through the end of March. Visiting hours are 2 PM - 5 PM and 7 PM – 10 PM, Fridays through Sundays.

For the month of January, telescope viewing under clear skies should reveal the Moon from the 6th to the 12th and the 27th to the 29th (New Moon is on the 22nd) and the planet Jupiter. The constellations Auriga, Camelopardalis, Canis Major, Gemini, Lepus, and Monoceros will be identified and deep sky objects such as a binary star, nebula, star cluster and galaxy in the constellations will be viewed through the telescopes.

During "The Stars Tonight" portion of the program, current topics from Sky and Telescope Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, the Astronomical Calendar, "The Observer's Year" and "365 Starry Nights" will be presented.

The afternoon program which begins at 2:05 p.m. may include views of projected images of sun-spots or solar prominences, and possibly direct telescope views of Venus or a bright star like Vega or Deneb.

Special programs at Goldendale Observatory

Regular Observatory sessions and special events are available via Discover Pass.

Call the Goldendale Observatory at (509)773-3141 or send an email to goldendale.observatory@parks.wa.gov for more information about any programs.

Current NASA missions

There will be plenty of activity on Mars and Saturn in the next few Months. I have put a link to the Mars and Saturn Mission websites at JPL, so you may look at all the pictures from the missions. I also have a link to local viewing times for the International Space Station and the new Kepler and Dawn missions.

Volunteer Opportunities at GOSP

In order for the Observatory to continue to grow and improve its facility it must rely on volunteer help. This volunteer help is needed in any of the following areas:

Greeter - Usher - Program Presenter - Telescope Operator - Tour Guide
Set Up - Clean Up - Special Repair Projects - Interpretive Projects
Answer Telephone - Office Work - Landscaping - Computer Projects
Adopt a Scope - Other (describe).

If you would like to volunteer some time or possibly have equipment you would like to donate to the Observatory, contact Steve Stout at the address or telephone number below. The Observatory maintains a wish list of equipment they need and have a donation box to help save money to buy equipment on this list. In addition, the Goldendale Observatory is now on line and has its own e-mail address. The Goldendale Observatory State Park is your public gateway to the stars - Enjoy!

Goldendale Observatory State Park
1602 Observatory Drive
Goldendale, WA 98620

Telephone (509) 773-3141
Fax (509) 773-6929
E-mail goldendale.observatory@parks.wa.gov

Washington State Parks Website

The Goldendale Observatory page is maintained by Bruce Perrault.
Visit my Astronomy web page - The Cowiche Astronomer.
The last update to this page was made on 1/12/2012.

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GOSP Directory

Astonomy Links

Goldendale Observatory
State Park

GOSP To Offer Free Days

Historical Background

Observatory Exact Location

How to get to the Goldendale Observatory

Summer Afternoon Program

Summer Evening Program

Winter Afternoon Program

Winter Evening Program

January Tour of the Universe

Special programs at Goldendale Observatory

Current NASA missions

Volunteer Opportunities at GOSP

GOSP Directory

Astonomy Links

Goldendale ObservatoryState Park

GOSP To Offer Free Days

Historical Background

Observatory Exact Location

How to get to the Goldendale Observatory

Summer Afternoon Program

Summer Evening Program

Winter Afternoon Program

Winter Evening Program

January Tour of the Universe

Special programs at Goldendale Observatory

Current NASA missions

Volunteer Opportunities at GOSP

Goldendale Observatory
State Park