Amateur Astronomical Observatories

Examples of small observatories that individual amateur astronomers have built for personal use. I started this list when doing research before building my own observatory. I got a lot of good ideas by looking at what others had done. Perhaps you will, too 🙂

Building a small observatory is not all that hard. A simple roll-off roof design can be built in a few days with simple tools and materials easily available in your local building supply store. A dome is much more complicated but still can be done with more careful planning. Or you can buy a kit.

Note: New entries are marked with an asterisk

Vendors

SkyShed, very nice roll-off plans, kits and installations At Home In A Dome Backyard Observatories, custom roll-offs Candomes Observatories, Ltd. Durango Skies Explora-Dome

Roll Off Roofs

Abre Los Ojos Agent Observatory Andrew Bray Paolo Aldinucci Altan Observatory Paul Andrew Arctic Industries Optical Division Area 52 Observatory Ash Observatory Ashen Path Observatory Astronomical Research Observatory Astropixlar (Swedish) The AstroShed AstroSpringville, several observatories Ballauer Observatory Observatorio de la Ballona Birch Tree Observatory Birmingham Astronomical Observatory Black Star Observatory BlindEye Observatory Jean-Pierre Bousquet Bright Skies Observatory Brooklyn Street Observatory Buckhorn Observatory Buena Vista Observatory Bush Observatory Observatori de Can Duran Alan Castillo Cat’s Paw Observatory Cave Creek Observatory Center Street Observatory Dale Chamberlain Observatory Chickens in the Mist Observatory Chico Community Observatory Cloudbait Observatory CopperHead Ridge Observatory Corydon Ridge Observatory Coyote Observatory Cradle-Ribeiro Observatory Darklight Observatory Dark Skies Observatory DeepSkyJam Tom Diana Don Dillinger’s Garden Shed Obsevatory * The Original Dobservatory Mike Dodd Dog House Astronomy Dogwood Ridge Observatory Rick Drozd DuPage Valley Observatory Martyn Elliot ELT Observatory Eta Carina Observatory Flarestar Observatory David Fansler Darin Fields Flint Hill Observatory Marcel Fontaine Frisco Observatory Frome Valley Observatory fredgui78 Observatory Wayne Gay Goodricke-Pigott Observatory Graham Observatory Grampian Stars Observatory Haltom City Observatory Harvest Moon Observatory Hidden Loft Observatory Hill Observatory Hocking Hills Observatory Hopkins Phoenix Observatory Houston Astronomical Society Hunters Hill Observatory Hyde Memorial Observatory Indian Hill Observatory Christoph Joppa W.M. Keck Observatory !! Key Hole Observatory Kiesel Park Observatory Kikkut Kochab Observatory Kometland Frans Lalleman Land of Oz Observatory Shane LaPierre Laurent CORP Steve Lee Lentin Observatory Linnhe Observatory *Observatorio Lledoner Lost Valley Observatory MAC-Hunter Observing Site Observatorio Mackay-J48 Ricardo Magalhães Maidenwell Astronomical Observatory Marcenciel William R. Mattil Meixner Observatorium Robert Mauran Meadow View Observatory * Mole Manor Observatory Morning Star Observatory David Morris Enrico Moltisanti Mount View Observatory M.T.S.O. Observatory Nanango TIE QUT Observatory Northern Stars Observatory Nova Quest Observatory Nunki-observatory Observatory.se Olympus Mons Observatory Onan Observatory Orange County Astronomers Observatoire D’Orange Owl Observatory Valère Perroud Observatoire Le Petit Borobia Chris Picking Piesport Observatory Pine Forest Observatory Pinhead Observatory 2 Planetary Perch Observatory Pleasant Valley Observatory – Northern Arizona Plus Ultra The Point Observatory L’Osservatore Ponte di Legno Pop The Top Observatory Mickael Porte Prairie Grass Observatory Ptolemy’s Cafe Putlands Observatory Rancho DeLUX Pedro Re Red Barn Observatory Observatory RigoRigo Roropoulos Arxetypo Observatory Rott’n Paws Observatory Saaletal-Observatorium Scutum Observatory Marc Serrau Seven Hills Observatory Sierra Remote Observatories Osservatorio Sintini The Sillegården Observatory Skafars Universe SkyNet Observatory The SkyRunner Observatory South Tamworth Observatory Spot Observatory Starfield Observatory Starhoo Observatory Starlight Cascade Observatory StarNavigator Astronomical Observatory Starwood Observatory STI Observatory Stone Haven Observatory Sweet Hill Observatory Taconic Observatory Taurus Observatory at DAV Tim’s StarDust Observatory Three Fathoms Observatory Timber Rock Observatory Todi Astronomical Observatory Cédric Thomas Tweenhills Observatory TwinOaks Observatory Twin Pines Observatory Observatoire du Val Vanishing Point Observatory Vedeler Observatory Very Small Optical Observatory Viento Ridge Observatory Vitovlje Observatory Watauga Skies Observatory John Watzke Westminster Astronomical Society           West Valley Observatory Whistlestop Observatory Windsong Observatory Winer Observatory Woodlands Observatory Denny Woolaghan York Creek Observatory Zen Observatory Zephyr Ridge Observatory Zeta UMa Observatory

Domes

Abbey Ridge Observatory Adirondack Skies Imaging Observatory * Observatorio Los Algarrobos Amos Observatory Arch Cape Observatory Arcturus Observatory Angelo Arelli Astraeus Observatory The Astronomy Center AstroPalma Osservatorio Astronomico Bassano Observatorio Astronomico Melaga Baker Observatory Bauerville Observatory Bellcroft Observatory Beinn View Observatory Bel Tor Observatory Benmore Peak Observatory Biggs Observatory Bil Hill Observatory Birch Grove Observatory Boothe Memorial Astronomical Society Brayebrook Observatory Las Brisas Observatory Bronsonian Observatory Aben Brown’s Minidome Camberley Observatory Observatorio Las Cangrejeras Cassiopeia Observatory Cedar Glen Observatory Chanctonbury Observatory Chumack Observatory City Observatory Clanfield Observatory Doug Clapp Clearview Farm Observatory Observatori Astronomic de Consell Croatian Amateur Astronomy Cymbeline Observatory *DaltonSkyGazer Deis Observatory Digital SF Observatory José Carlos Diniz Deep Sky Observatory Maxim Deminsky Dimension Point Astronomical Observatory DPP Observatory Eagle Rock Observatory Earwig Haven Observatory Elk Creek Observatory Flagey Felopaul Observatory FOAM13 Fohbr Observatoriet Frog Rock Observatory Observatoire Gap-47 Joe Garlitz Gilday Observatory Heaven’s Glory Observatory Goldendale Observatory Gary Gonnella Good Night Observatory Green Island Observatory Grenville Base Observatory Grimée Observatory Halfmoon Stream Observatory Hercules Observatory High Plains Observatory Holly Dome Observatory Horizontal Heavens Observtory Ironpan Observatory Ironwood Observatories JAT Observatory Jornada Observatory R.F. Joyce Observatory Kletzen-Observatory Kotipu Place Observatory Observatorio Las Palmas Lahti Ursa Observatory (Finnish) Littlebear Observatory Lone Star Observatory Lucky Dog Observatory MacSaySo Observatory Madison Astronomical Society Ed Majden’s Observatory Martz Observatory Mauna Keratea Observatory Observatorio Astronomico Municipal de Mercedes Pete Mills Milwaukee Astronomical Society Mistletoe Observatory Monoceros Observatory Observatorio Montaña Cabreja *MonteVenere Observatory Morgan County Observatory Mt. Campbell Observatory Murmer Creek Observatory The Mueller Observatory Nepean Observatory Newcastle Observatory New Forest Observatory NF/ Observatory New Jersey Astronomical Association Nikau Observatory Nova Astrophoto Nyrola Observatory OACP (Observatorio Astronómico Camino de Palomares) *Observatorio Magnitud 4 The Octadome Kunihiko Okano Orbit House Observatory Orion Observatories Patina Gardens Observatory Pebble Beach Obseratory Pegasus Octagonian Observatory Phatbobs Happy Place Observatoire du Pic des Fées Pickney Ridge Observatory Pinhead Observatory Pleasant Ridge Observatory Powell Observatory Prairie Grass Observatory Prairehill Farm Observatory Pedro Re Robert Reeves Glen D. Riley Observatory Ritchie Observatory Plover Hill Observatory Paul Robinson Observatory, NJAA RD-1 Remote Observatory Robosky Warren Rupp Observatory RVO Observatory Jan Sandberg Observatori Astronòmic de Sant Julià de Vilatorta Werner Schmidt Observatory L’Observatoire de Seloncourt Seething Observatory Sherwood Observatory Simon’s Dome Skybadger Observatory Smith Observatory Smoggy Bottom Observatory Sola Virtus Observatory Amateur Observatory of South Finland Stargate 4173 at Grimaldi Tower Starhouse Observatory The Stirland Observatory Stradoun Observatory Tahtikallio Taurus Hill Observatory Terra Rouge Observatory Three Buttes Observatory Three Rivers Observatory Thrush Observatory TOC Observatory Esteban Troncoso Twillingate Astronomical Observatory Domi Verrascina James C. Veen Observatory, two domes Vitovlje Observatory Math Vos Waning Moon Wishing Star Observatory Worchester Park Observatory Xanadu Observatory York Creek Observatory

Other Designs

Angel Light Observatory Observatoire D’Arbaz – Anzere ARGO Cooperative Observatory Astroscopic Labs Observatory Ballarat Observatory Betelgeuse Burton View Observatory Massimo Caimmi Michael Caligiuri Club Observatory Columba Conlin Hill Observatory Deerlick Astronomy Village The Down Under Observatory (a bat-wing style) Greenbox Observatory Bert Katzung The Kielder Road Observatory Stefano Klett Lake Istokpoga Observatory Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society Lookum Observatory Jim Loudon Observatory Osservatorio Mazzotti Oak Hill Star Shed Observatory Oil Region Astronomical Observatory The Outhouse Possum Observatory, a rotating building Red N’ Blue Observatory Norman Reynolds Rich Observatory Observatorio Santa Elena Seffner Telescope and Research Split Rock Observatory Star Deck Observatory Star Watcher Observatory, Phil Harrington Don Stefanik Sunflower Observatory Tenagra Observatories Federico Testa VSOR Observatory Whitepeak Observatory Windy Ridge Observatory

Piers

Bill Arnett’s temporary hack several at MAPUG Bert Katzung Le Sueur Manf. Co., Astro Pier Ralph Pass Pier_Tech, fancy piers Matt Todman

Other Links

The ATM Page – Observatory Plansvendors of astronomical equipment

Professional Observatories

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Want your observatory listed here? Just email me your URL 🙂