Friends' Night at MIRA's Oliver Observing Station

Cloud cover cancels the sky-observing portion of this event.

To the public:  This event is restricted to current Friends of MIRA.

The Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy ("MIRA") hosts this annual "open-house"-style event at its Oliver Observing Station on Chews Ridge in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  The event includes a tour of the facility, views through its 36" telescope, and observing through other telescopes, hosted by members of the MIRA Astronomy Club.  The drive to the event includes about six miles of unpaved dirt/gravel road.  The entrance gate at the intersection of Tassajara Road and Chews Ridge Road will close shortly after the start of this event, and will not re-open until after the event has ended.  Guest parking is in a meadow down the hill from the observatory.

From the MIRA website and/or invitation flyer:

Most of the time MIRA's 36-inch telescope is dedicated to scientific observing. But once a year an eyepiece goes on and we share the pristine skies above Chews Ridge with our Friends. There's nothing like seeing planets, rich starfields and dark interstellar clouds through our powerful telescope.

Guests are encouraged to arrive in time to take in the sunset, enjoy a snack or two in the hospitality space, and chat with an astronomer. Then MIRA astronomers will lead you on a tour of the heavens and answer all those questions about the Universe you've been wondering about. Members of the MIRA Astronomy Club are on hand with their own scopes too, and meteor streaks stand out more clearly against OOS's dark skies, so there's plenty to see and do.

Please make reservations as space is limited.  This event is not appropriate for very young children. If you have any questions please contact us.  (831) 883-1000 or mira@mira.org.

As indicated above, this event is open only to "Friends of MIRA" (those who have made a donation to MIRA in the last twelve months).  See below for an exception.



Notes to MIRA Astronomy Club members:  Volunteers are needed for this event!  MIRA Astronomy Club members who are willing to participate in a public-star-party-like event with their own telescopes are invited to attend this event for free, without a reservation.  If you are interested in participating, email mac@mira.org by Thursday, September 18th.

MIRA's Oliver Observing Station is located on Tassajara Road in Carmel Valley, in the Lost Padres National Forest.  Allow an hour and a half for the trip from the Monterey Peninsula or Salinas, or an hour from Carmel Valley Village.  From Carmel Valley Village, travel east on Carmel Valley Road for about ten miles to Tassajara Road.  Turn right.  Follow Tassajara Road for approximately three miles to the start of the dirt road section.  The last six miles are on a steep dirt country road which is quite bumpy and dusty.  Please drive slowly.  You will ascend 4,000 feet in those six miles.  Turn left at the very top of Chews Ridge, just when you see that the road will begin to descend.  There will be a small sign that shows a left-pointing arrow and the letters "MIRA".  This is a Forest Access Road and is rutted in some spots.  MIRA's astronomers drive small cars and have no problems with this road, as long as they go slowly.  Also, driving slowly helps keep the dust down and out of MIRA's very delicate telescope mirror surfaces and instrumentation.  The facility driveway branches off to the right a short way up the hill, and after another quarter mile through the forest you will reach the observatory.

To create your own directions in Google Maps, click here.

Plan to arrive at Oliver Observing Station prior to the start of the public event.  Telescopes may be set up and vehicles may be parked in the areas shown in the map below.  Note the steep grade approaching the mountain top.



Participating club members may stay after the end of the public event for a late-night or all-night observing session.  They may also enjoy an extended viewing session through MIRA's 36" telescope.  Take advantage of this rare access to one of the darkest professional observing sites in the continental U.S.  (Click here for more information about this site.)

Camping may be available.  Call the MIRA office at 831-883-1000 for details.

The entrance gate to the area closes at 2:00am, opening again only after 10:00am on Sunday morning.  There is a bathroom available in the observatory.  Cell phone coverage is spotty, at best.

Got questions?  Call the MIRA office at 831-883-1000.