Observatory status.
March 2023

The observatory is closed until April. Our website will be updated with a new scheduling calendar, and it will be available online starting March 19th. Also, the mount for our dome telescope is currently being serviced, and we hope to have it back in time for the Estes Valley Astronomy Club meeting and open house scheduled for March 25th.

Starting in April, we will host observatory visits four nights a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). The observatory will be closed two days before and the night of the full moon due to the brightness. All observatory visits and stargazing sessions are weather-dependent, and cancellations may occur on short notice. Reservations will only be taken three months in advance through September 2023 (TBD).

The observatory will continue to accommodate Estes Park school groups and organizations working with youth, such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, and similar groups. These organizations often have programs or activities related to science, nature, or astronomy, which align with our mission.

The observatory is an all-volunteer organization, and our availability is limited by the small number of volunteers and the capacity of our facility. Currently, we have only two trained volunteers, and we can accommodate only 12 to 15 people in our viewing dome at any one time. We are currently training more volunteers, and we will open up for more nights soon. We apologize for any inconvenience these restrictions may cause, and we look forward to scheduling your visit.

Welcome to the Estes Park Memorial Observatory

The Estes Park Memorial Observatory (EPMO) is a community resource dedicated to fostering scientific education of children in Estes Park and serving as an educational venue for the community and visitors.   EPMO holds events throughout the year in conjunction with the local school system, the Estes Valley Astronomical Society and the Rocky Mountain National Park.

The observatory schedules private and group viewing sessions and hosts educational lectures on astronomy, cosmology, astrophotography and special astronomical events such as comet fly-bys and more! We also have fun on going projects like our Human Sundial Project. EPMO is currently offering  opportunities for volunteers. Just contact us to get involved and learn about our sky along the way! Can’t help? Donate to our Estes Park Observatory and come visit anytime!

See our Schedule to book your viewing and/or see what is coming up soon!

The Estes Park Memorial Observatory Goals:

  • To interest kids K-12th grade in math, physics and science.
  • To use astronomy as a tool to accomplish these goals.
  • To make learning a fun experience.
  • To promote critical thinking about really big things.

 

See more about our observatory equipment and learn more about observatory.

Donations can now be made on-line to EPMO! Thanks to our past and future donors.