Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory
Just south of Bend the community of Sunriver sits at a higher elevation with crystal clear air and lack of light pollution that makes for ideal night sky viewing. The Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory (SNCO), also known as the Oregon Observatory, boasts the largest publicly accessible collection of telescopes in the country. Open year round, SNCO offers a wide variety of programs for all ages, including solar viewing and night-sky viewing. Find hours and ticket info online.
SNCO.org
57245 River Rd., Sunriver; 541.593.4394
Worthy Brewing Hopservatory
Located on the east side of Bend, the Worthy Hopservatory is a project of local non-profit Worthy Environmental. With a goal of “raising scientific literacy and educating our visitors about big and unwieldy concepts like scale, size, time, distance and speed in our solar system and beyond,” the Hopservatory is open to all ages and questions are encouraged. Depending on the time of year and level of visibility, you’ll be amazed at the wonders of the night sky!
WorthyEnvionmental.org
$5 donation recommended
495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend
Pine Mountain Observatory
For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, Pine Mountain Observatory (PMO) lies just 34 miles southeast of Bend. Perched atop a mountain at 6,300 feet, PMO makes the most of the dark skies of the Eastern Oregon High Desert. Operated by the University of Oregon Department of Physics under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest, PMO’s primary function is research, astronomical observations and education. Open to the public from May through September, a USFS campground is adjacent to PMO for those who prefer to camp nearby.
PMO.UOOregon.edu
$5 donation recommended.
Take Hwy 20 east from Bend for 26 miles. Turn right just beyond Millican Store; follow to top of Pine Mountain (8 miles).