Welcome
Welcome to Pine Mountain Observatory!
Latest news –
June 1, 2026
Pine Mountain Observatory Closed to the Public until Further Notice
We are sorry to report that the recent thunderstorms in the area have severely damaged the access road (NF 2017) to Pine Mountain Observatory (PMO). Currently there is no access to the observatory or Pine Mountain Campground.
Because of this unfortunate situation, all public facing activities – including our weekend ‘Public Nights’ programs – are cancelled until further notice.
We will be working with our Forest Service partners to get the road repaired and safe to traverse as quickly as possible. Please keep an eye on this webpage for more information in the future.
With regrets,
Scott Fisher
Director of PMO
What do we do?
We’re a gateway to the heavens nestled in the Deschutes National Forest, east of Bend, Oregon. Owned and operated by the University of Oregon, we love teaching folks of all ages about our place in the universe during our spring and summer outreach nights.
Come check us out!
Visiting
Tours may be available during the week by advance appointment, however, these tours are now limited to school and other educational groups.
The mid-week tours are conducted by the same observatory staff and volunteer amateur astronomers who conduct the regular weekend tours. The observatory also conducts a research science camp during the summer, bringing astronomers and students from all around the Western U.S. to teach and participate in programs.
Volunteer
Observatory tour guides provide assistance looking through a variety of different telescopes, from small portable scopes often used by amateurs, up to research-grade telescopes installed at PMO, including especially the 24-inch Cassegrain reflector which was installed at PMO in 1967! Volunteer tour guides also educate visitors about the various sky objects observed, discuss current topics and technologies used in modern astronomy and cosmology, and answer visitor questions.
Gallery
We welcome you to share your images taken on the mountain! Please send them to Alton Luken, Operations Manager, Pine Mountain Observatory.