Goldendale Observatory State Park
Goldendale Observatory State Park is an educational facility on the northern side of Goldendale, Washington, notable for its unusually large public telescope. The state park occupies five acres (2.0 ha) atop a 2,100-foot (640 m) hill.
| Goldendale Observatory State Park Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Location in the state of Washington Goldendale Observatory State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Goldendale, Klickitat, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°50′20″N 120°48′55″W |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Elevation | 2,106 ft (642 m) |
| Established | October 13, 1973 |
| Operator | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Goldendale Observatory |
Access is via a winding paved road through an oak forest. The site includes a small picnic area, interpretive center, amphitheater, and the observatory.
There are several telescopes on-site, including portable Dobsonians, a permanently mounted Hydrogen-Alpha solar telescope, and the primary instrument; a 24.5-inch reflector which is housed in the South Dome. The facility receives 30-40,000 visitors annually. From 2010 to 2017 the park was an International Dark Sky Park, and expects to be a dark sky site again when the current observatory reconstruction is completed.