Information for Observers

The 30" Boller and Chivens Ritchey-Chretian telescope, focal reducing optics, and the Evora science camera produce a field of view of 8 x 8 arcminutes and a plate scale (with 2 x 2 binning) of 0.93 "/pixel.

The observatory is located approximately 9 miles West-Southwest of Ellensburg, WA at an altitude of 3930' (1198 m), a longitude of 120.7278 degrees West, and a latitude of +46.9528 degrees. The facility offers a full kitchen and a grill. Although there is running (cold) water, observers should plan on bringing drinking water.

The observatory is usually open by mid-May and stays open through September. The observing class, Astro 481, has priority for much of the time from late June through the middle of August, but for other times please contact Oliver Fraser with your observing proposal!

Safety Checklist

• • Keep the gate locked so animals don't get trapped within the fence, and so you can choose who visits you.

  • First Aid kits are located in the kitchen, on the telescope pier, and in the safety kit. The kitchen kit includes small amounts of over-the-counter pain medication, eye wash, and even a snake bite kit. The medicine cabinets in each bathroom have other supplies you may need.

  • Summer is wildfire season, and it's not unusual to see smoke on the horizon. If you feel concerned, call 911 and prepare to leave. For unconcerning fires, check these sources:  

    • the Northwest Fire Locations map (click on the fire for more information, including its outlook).

    • Western Fire Chief's Association Fire Map (claims to be updated quickly)

  • Once you have the name, twitter is a great way you to stay up to date (e.g. #riggscanyonfire, #lefthandfire), but you can also check WildCAD.

  • Smoke from distant fires isn't a safety issue, but does affect observing. You can check the Real-time Air Quality Index (and forecast!) for Ellensburg.

  • In case of any accident, report it to the observatory staff.

Things to Do

MRO has games, books, movies, a fantastic record collection, and the internet. You can bake brownies in the 8"x8" pan, practice your origami, or catch up on your summer reading list. Hiking in the surrounding area requires hardy shoes, a buddy, and bright clothing (hunting season is late summer, but you should always be obvious to other animals, including humans!). Many of the best features of the observatory are thanks to our undergraduate users, so if something looks like it needs attention, and it's within your skill level, dive in! For examples, the path to the deck has gotten a little overgrown, but we have pruners, "rock paint" and brushes in the workshop). If you'd like a more ambitious project, Oliver has ideas!

Travel

It's about 3 hours from UW in Seattle to the doorway of MRO. Please note that the last 15 miles of the road are unpaved, and have potentially dangerous turns and sometimes washouts. Please drive slowly and carefully! On your way, stop in Cle Elum at Owen's Meat where you'll find the finest brats and steaks outside of Texas, and the finest beef jerky on the planet. And yes, MRO has a grill.

Directions

The map below shows many useful landmarks mentioned in the directions below. You may wish to supplement these directions with a better map, but do not depend on online resources as you are driving. Most people find that their phones do not have service on many parts of the route, and driving directions do not replace knowledge of the landmarks below.

• • OpenStreetMap seems to have the best road map of the area.  

  • You can also see the route on this Google Map.

  • The official road map of the area is the "Green Dot" map for the Wenus Wildlife Area.

To get to the observatory from Seattle you start by taking I-90 East to the Canyon Road exit, which is the last Ellensburg exit along I-90. At the bottom of the exit ramp you turn right on Canyon Road and head back towards Ellensburg. Umptanum Road is half a mile from the Canyon Road exit, marked by the two-story subway. Turn left onto Umptanum Road.

After a mile and a half on Umptanum road, you will pass Dammon School on your right, and soon after the road will lead you up the Shushuskin Canyon. At the top of this canyon and the road will turn into an unpaved dirt road. From this point, you will travel 10.0 miles before you get to the Observatory Road. All the following distances are measured from this point.

• • Watch out for the sharp, descending turn at 3.3 miles.

  • About 4.5 miles in the road often gets rough as you descend toward the Umptanum Falls trailhead. There's a gravel parking lot with a 30 minute hike into a really lovely waterfall tucked in amongst the hills. Well worth the detour!

At 10.0 miles turn right onto Observatory road. You will know you are close to the intersection when you pass a large house with a green roof at 9.6 miles. You will descend a short hill and find the a wood and wire gate on the right that you may need to open. Be sure to leave the gate in the exact same state as you found it.

Once on Observatory Road, turn right at all forks until MRO's driveway. You will pass:

• • A cattle grate at 11.3 miles.

  • An intersection at 12.3 miles with a road referred to as Mudflat Road on the map below or Manastash Ridge Road on online maps. As usual, turn right.

  • Umtanum Creek at 12.5 miles.

  • The last right turn at 14.2 miles.

At 14.7 miles you have just passed a big yellow DNR gate and will be almost to the top of the Manastash Ridge when you'll reach a fork in the road. The left leg of this fork is the observatory's "driveway". Take the left.

Congratulations! You've made it to MRO -- enjoy your stay!!