Stony Ridge Observatory

Stony Ridge Observatory, in the mountains of Los Angeles County near Mount Wilson, was built in 1957 by and for amateur astronomers and remains devoted to that purpose. Its principal instrument, a 760 mm, 30-inch Newtonian-Cassegrain telescope, was likely the eighth largest in California when installed and among the nation’s largest amateur telescopes, with unusual flexibility in its optical design. Despite modest facilities, the observatory has produced significant scientific results, including asteroid discoveries and lunar photography and mapping work used to help select a lunar lander touchdown site. After limited damage in the 2009 Station Fire, a mid-2017 restoration revived both its historic machinery and modern capabilities.

California · United States