Goldendale Observatory State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Goldendale Observatory State Park is an educational facility near Goldendale, Washington. It contains the largest telescopes that can be accessed by the general public in the United States. It was acquired by the state of Washington in 1980, after being operated by the Goldendale Observatory Corporation since October 13, 1973.
The park consists of five acres (20,000 m²) of ground located on top of a 2,100 ft (640 m) hill. The site includes a small picnic area, an interpretive center, ampitheater, and the observatory. It has several telescopes, including the main instrument. It receives about 30-40,000 visitors per year.
The telescope was the work of four amateur astronomers who were assembling a 24.5 inch (622 mm) Cassegrain reflecting telescope. This instrument was originally intended for Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. However it was eventually donated to the town of Goldendale. An observatory was constructed on this hilltop to the north of the town, and became a public education center. The observatory dome has a diameter of 20 ft.
On February 26, 1979, the observatory served as the National Astronomical League official headquarters during a solar eclipse. The eclipsed occurred on February 26, 1979, six years after the observatory opened. Approximately 15,000 people came to the town of Goldendale on that date to observe the eclipse.
The observatory has been threatened with closure due to state budget cuts several times beginning in 1980, but has thus far managed to remain in operation.
