Pine Mountain Observatory
The observatory's September 25, 2026 update says it remains closed to the public until further notice.
University of Oregon observatory east of Bend with public telescope nights on two weekends a month in summer; closed to the public until further notice as of September 2026.
Ways to visit
Public telescope viewing nights Temporarily closed
Closed to the public until further notice, per the observatory's September 25, 2026 update.
- What you see
- Exhibitspmo.uoregon.edu, 2026-11-05
- How
- Scheduled tourpmo.uoregon.edu, 2026-11-05
- When
- Two Friday and Saturday weekends a month from late May to September, evening after sunset. Arriving after 10 p.m. is not recommended; the 24-inch telescope normally stays open until midnight on clear moonless nights. Currently closed to the public.Season: 05-25 to 09-30 (Two weekends a month, Friday and Saturday nights, late May to September, when open.)pmo.uoregon.edu, 2026-11-05 · pmo.uoregon.edu, 2026-11-05
- Booking
- Not stated · by phoneNo booking is described for public nights. Group tours are arranged by phone.pmo.uoregon.edu, 2026-11-05
- Cost
- DonationA $5 donation per person is requested. Group tours on non-public nights cost $250 for the first 20 people, then $5 each, and are limited to school and educational groups.pmo.uoregon.edu, 2026-11-05
- Requirements
- None stated.
About
Pine Mountain Observatory is a University of Oregon research and teaching site in the Deschutes National Forest. In a normal year it holds public viewing nights on two Friday and Saturday weekends a month from late May to September, with guides at a 24-inch telescope and smaller portable ones. A $5 donation per person is requested. Its September 2026 update says it remains closed to the public until further notice, so check before you plan a trip.
Owner: University of Oregon.
Getting there
OR
About 34 miles southeast of Bend. Take Highway 20 east toward Burns, turn south on the dirt road just past Millican (26 miles from Bend) and drive about 8 miles to the top. The observatory says the road is in bad shape, not suitable for passenger cars, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended.
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (43.79150, -120.94100). Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Pine Mountain Observatory: 541-382-8331
Last checked 2026-11-05. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- pmo.uoregon.edu · official page · read 2026-11-05For: name; who runs it; Public telescope viewing nights: open or closed
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q7195… · Wikidata · read 2026-11-05For: location
- pmo.uoregon.edu/visiting/ · official page · read 2026-11-05For: phone and email; Public telescope viewing nights: what you see; Public telescope viewing nights: kind of visit; Public telescope viewing nights: days and hours; Public telescope viewing nights: booking; Public telescope viewing nights: cost; Public telescope viewing nights: requirements
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