The Moore Observatory is located on the Pasco campus. Our main telescope is a 16-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube assembly on a Paramount ME German equatorial mount. The telescope is housed in a six-meter Ash Dome on top of a 25-foot by 40-foot observatory building.
CBC lies at 46 degrees 15' 8.4" latitude and west longitude at 119 degrees 07' 36.5", at an altitude of 407 feet. Our climate is dry and warm in the summer, dry and temperate in the spring and fall, and mostly dry but often foggy in the winter months. We have endless nights of clear skies.
The observatory was developed through the generous donation of the late Robert (Bob) Moore and his late wife, Elisabeth.
Our main focus is the use of the observatory as a teaching aid for our astronomy curriculum. We allow use of the observatory for elementary, middle, and high school programs, as well as for student and other clubs interested in astronomy.
Astronomy Courses
For information about the Astronomy program at CBC, visit our
Astronomy page.
Planetarium
The Bechtel National Planetarium is now open at CBC. For more information, visit our
Planetarium page.
Astronomy Links
Tri-City Astronomy Club
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
NASA Stargazing Monthly Videos
Tonight's Sky
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What's Up?
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Spot the International Space Station
Events
The observatory is open to the general public on Friday nights from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. On Friday there isn't anyone in the office and you can call Mike Brady at 509-420-3488. With current winter weather the opening of the observatory will be delayed until the weather is warmer and the skies are clear. The observatory is not heated and with the cloudy conditions the night sky will not be visible.
The observatory closes Thanksgiving week for the winter and reopens in the spring on the first Friday of March. The winter months are too cloudy and cold for public viewing at the observatory. With the current winter weather conditions the opening of the observatory will be delayed until the weather is warmer and the skies are clear. The observatory is not heated and with the cloudy conditions the night sky will not be visible. As soon as the weather conditions are conducive for viewing on Friday nights the Observatory will be open again.
Private events can be held at the observatory by appointment. See contact information below to schedule an appointment.
Astronomy Photo of the Month
This is the North America Nebula, which is a large area of the hydrogen gas that happens to resemble the North American continent. Photo by Mike Brady.
And by the way... Keep looking up, the stars are there for you.