Haggart Observatory Public Nights

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Haggart Observatory

Through a partnership with Clackamas Community College, RCA maintains the Haggart Observatory located at the John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center on the CCC campus in Oregon City.  To offer the public a unique opportunity to access this rare community resource, RCA operates the observatory on select nights on behalf of CCC.

 
 

Haggart Dates for viewing the moon in 2024 have been selected! These were carefully narrowed down so the moon wouldn't be too high to safely climb the ladder but also not so low it would be in the trees.

We are skipping registration this year to hopefully make things smoother for all. Each viewing session will have volunteers available during a two-hour window. Please note, if we get a big line, you may be asked to wait at the base of the stairs by one of our volunteers; we can only accommodate around 20 guests on the observatory deck, including up to five in the dome.

All guests will be asked to sign a liability waiver when they arrive. Please be prepared to climb stairs to the observatory deck and possibly a ladder to see through the large telescope.

The dates and times, subject to weather, are:

  • Saturday, Apr 20 - Moon phase: Waxing gibbous - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Note: Daylight during first half

  • Wednesday, May 15 - Moon phase: First quarter - 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM - Note: Moon at maximum safe ladder height at start

  • Saturday, May 18 - Moon phase: Waxing gibbous - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Note: Daylight event
    Update: CANCELLED due to forecasted clouds

  • Thursday, Jun 13 - Moon phase: First quarter - 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM

    Update: CANCELLED due to forecasted clouds

  • Saturday, Aug 10 - Moon phase: Waxing crescent - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Note: Daylight event

  • Monday, Aug 12 - Moon phase: First quarter - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Note: Moon will be too low by 8:30 PM

  • Tuesday, Sep 17 - Moon phase: Full - 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM - Note: Moon will be too low earlier in evening

    Update: CANCELLED due to forecasted clouds

  • Wednesday, Oct 16 - Moon phase: Full - 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM - Note: Moon will be too low earlier in evening

  • Update: CANCELLED due to forecasted clouds

There are no further dates scheduled for 2024. Please check back next year for a list of planned 2025 lunar observing nights.

Unfortunately, we are out of the "golden era of summer gas giants," and planets will not be viewable at Haggart events for the foreseeable future. However, some of our volunteers may be able to aim our smaller, more portable telescopes at some of the brighter deep-sky objects that are high in the sky on nighttime events.

The summer star party is confirmed for Friday, July 26th starting at 9:30 PM. The moon will not rise until late, so we will not have to wait long for it to get nice and dark to start sharing telescope views. But, if volunteers remain on the field late enough, night-owl guests may have an opportunity to watch the moon rise.

 

Light pollution in the Portland-metro area has been steadily getting worse..

Without traveling to darker skies, even large telescopes have a hard time seeing the fainter nebulae and star clusters beyond our solar system. Happily, many of the objects in our celestial backyard are bright enough to shine right through the worst city lights.

This year at Haggart Observatory, we're focusing on Earth's closest neighbor, the moon. While you can look up any day or night and have a 50% chance of seeing it (weather permitting), many people have never seen it in detail through a telescope.

Haggart Observatory houses an enormous telescope with a 24" mirror

 

…built nearly 40 years ago by a local prolific telescope-maker, Steve Swayze. Come visit the observatory this summer and see the craters filling the moon's Southern Highlands, cast in stark relief at their own local sunrise just as we're dipping into our own sunset.

 

Visitors coming to the April and May dates may have a chance to glimpse Venus as it sets shortly after the sun, and on the last observing day of the year you may be able to see Saturn as it clears the trees to the east towards the end of the night.

 

Bring your enthusiasm for the night sky and any questions you may have for our volunteers!

Volunteering

RCA members who are interested in volunteering at the observatory during these events are encouraged to contact haggart@rosecityastronomers.org for operator training.  Volunteers are also eligible to use the observatory on a limited basis for club observing time. Please note, due to liability insurance, all Haggart volunteers must be RCA members and must have signed the RCA volunteer code of conduct.

Group Viewing

Opportunities for group viewing at the observatory are limited, but we will do our best to accommodate requests. Please contact the observatory coordinator, Mike Reitmajer, at haggart@rosecityastronomers.org for more information. We cannot accommodate groups larger than 20 individuals.

Did you come to this page with questions about space?

Mike is an engineer by trade and not a professional astronomer, but if you have a pressing question about the night sky or space, he’ll see what he can do to answer you.

On most nights, RCA volunteers will also set up the observatory's smaller telescopes on the outdoor deck to look through in between visits to the largest telescope.

 

Please NOTE: call 503-594-6044 Option 1 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the event for a recorded announcement about the status of the night's event. Scheduled Public Nights might be cancelled on account of:

  • Poor sky conditions - generally any forecast for skys that are not at least "mostly clear".

  • A lack of volunteers to open and coordinate the event.

  • Other circumstances affecting the safety of RCA volunteers and visiting guests.

If you plan on attending one of these Public Nights, please pay attention to the following:

  • Depending on the number of people showing up at any one time, you may have to wait your turn to view through the main telescope - and your viewing time may be limited in order to give others waiting a similar opportunity.

  • You will have to be physically able to climb stairs to reach the observing deck and a ladder to actually view through the telescope. Wear shoes without heels.

  • Please DO NOT bring flashlights of any kind. There is adequate local light to see the path to the observatory and climb the stairs.

  • Limited parking is located directly across from the observatory and in nearby lots.

  • Click on the Haggart Clear Sky Chart above to look at the prediction we generally rely on when making our decision whether or not to cancel an event based on sky conditions.

Driving Directions

From 1-205 (either direction) :

  • Take Exit 10 ("Park Place") onto Highway 213 headed east (towards Molalla)

  • Continue on Hwy 213 for about 3 miles up the canyon to the intersection with Beavercreek Road

  • Turn left onto Beavercreek Road (heading east)

  • At the second stop light, turn right - onto Clackamas Community College Campus.

  • Turn right at the stop sign onto South Douglas Loop Road

  • Turn right at the first road (Inskeep Drive)

  • Park in one of the lots on your left and walk across the street into the Environmental Learning Center and follow the signs to the Observatory

Printable Directions

Other information about Haggart Observatory:

Groups and organizations interested in scheduling a private event at the Observatory should contact the RCA Haggart Observatory Coordinator

RCA Members should check out the Haggart Observatory section of the RCA Forum about how and when members can schedule personal use of the Observatory.

If you have any further question, contact the RCA Haggart Observatory Coordinator via email: haggart@rosecityastronomers.org