Table Mountain Observatory

Table Mountain Observatory in Big Pines, California, is a long-running astronomical facility in the Angeles National Forest near Wrightwood, operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of the broader Table Mountain Facility. Scientific work there began in 1924 under the Smithsonian Institution, and JPL assumed the lease in 1962 as the observatory took on space-age roles. It has supported precise astrometric observations for spacecraft navigation and the confirmation and recovery of near-Earth comets and asteroids. It is also noted for minor planet research, with more than 260 discoveries there, and remains an active, flexible site with a significant record in planetary astronomy.

Wrightwood, California · United States