Robert Ferguson Observatory

Robert Ferguson Observatory is Northern California’s most active public observatory. Located at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Robert Ferguson Observatory is surrounded by towering oaks and a protective ring of rolling hills, making it the ideal location for stargazing. The Robert Ferguson Observatory is open to the public only during scheduled events, including select weekends throughout the year for both night and solar viewing, as well as additional dates for a variety of programs and activities. The observatory is also available to rent for private star parties and other special events.

Public Solar Observing: Come and view our closest star and learn about sunspots, prominences, flares and more. We observe with both visible light and radio telescopes.

Public Star Party: Presentations on astronomical topics are given in the classroom throughout the course of the evening. Starting at dusk, the Observatory’s three main telescopes are open for your viewing. Docents set up additional telescopes in front of the building. Friendly and knowledgeable docents are available to answer your questions.

What’s Up?: If you’ve ever looked up at the stars overhead and wondered what else is up there, the Robert Ferguson Observatory’s “Whats Up?” program is designed for you! The event will feature a talk on objects in our local galaxy, the Milky Way, and very deep space objects beyond, plus you will get plenty of time at the telescope eyepieces.

Focus Nights: Focus Nights take a single topic and present it in depth, giving participants an opportunity to gain deeper understanding and expand their appreciation of astronomy.