WORTHY GARDEN CLUB STRIVES TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY AND WORLD A BETTER PLACE THROUGH NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH INFLUENTIAL ORGANIZATIONS. EXPLORE ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED WITH OUR AWESOME CREW.
HOPSERVATORY
GARDENS
DARK SKIES
HOPSERVATORY
CLOSED NOV, 18TH - DEC, 3RD
Please email: to book a later viewing date. Clear skies!
See what the Central Oregon night
sky has to offer! Open house viewing includes a peek through our 16-inch research-grade telescope. You’ll have the opportunity to gaze upon galaxies, planets, star clusters, nebulae and of course the Moon, guided by our resident astronomer, Grant.
THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, $5 A PERSON, LIMIT OF 2-5 PEOPLE PER GROUP.
Payments will be made over the phone prior to viewing. Contact grant@worthygardenclub.com to book your tour.
HEALTH UPDATE: MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES INSIDE THE OBSERVATORY DOME. MASKS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED BUT WILL BE REQUIRED UPON ENTRY, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN.
SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE ENFORCED
Interpreting the Clear Sky Clock:
In the rows labeled "cloud cover," find the column of blocks.
Darker blue = clear skies. White/gray blocks = cloudy.
Night viewing too late for you? Come view our neighboring star - the Sun! Our newly acquired Hydrogen Alpha solar telescope has protective filters to keep us safe as we view details on the solar surface like sun-spots, solar flares, prominences and filaments. This filtering effect allows you to see only glowing hydrogen gas and gives you the contrast to see the Sun for what it really is: a dynamic, seething, and occasionally violent place where immense amounts of energy and hot gas are flung into space.
SOLAR VIEWING IS CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
No registration required; take the spiral staircase or elevator directly to the 3rd floor Hopservatory during open hours.
Want a more intimate experience
with the sky? Book a private tour for your friends, family, school group, or business associates.
(To accommodate our public program private tour availability is limited to select Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday nights in spring/summer.)
$200/hour for 20 people
$50 extra/hour, per additional 10 people
Full coverage scholarships available for school groups
SEE NIGHT SKY VIEWING FOR UPDATED PROGRAM INFORMATION
For more information or to schedule your private tour, please contact grant@worthygardenclub.com.
FAQS
Is there an entrance fee to visit the Hopservatory?
We don't charge admission but we do suggest a $5 donation per person for anyone over the age of 7. If you don't have cash, you can donate via PayPal at the top of our home page. All proceeds directly benefit Worthy Garden Club natural science literacy programs.
What if it's cloudy?
In the event of inclement weather, Hopservatory viewings may be canceled. Email for viewing updates. If the demand is present, guests can take a peek at the equipment in the dome but won't be able to view through the telescope. Private tours will be contacted directly in the event of cloudy conditions. Chances are, if it's cloudy outside your window, we'll have less-than-optimal viewing at the Hopservatory.
Can the Hopservatory be rented out for an event?
The Hopservatory is quite small, so we cannot host events inside the dome, but it is available as an add-on to any booked event in WORTHY BREWING'S HOP MAHAL and includes guided viewing. (availability limited in Spring and Summer) Rates start @ $200. Email Rob at for more information. Payment and scheduling are made through Worthy Garden Club.
Can you bring beer into the Hopservatory?
Yes, we are located at a brewery, but no, beer is not allowed in the dome. Telescopes are expensive! You are welcome to plan your viewing around beer and food at the pub.
What can you expect to see through the telescope?
The objects we view at the Hopservatory depend on the season, time of night and weather conditions. We try our best to display "highlight" objects, and you can expect to view a few different objects throughout the night if you stick around for the entire program. These objects include but aren't limited to the Moon, planets within our solar system, binary stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and the occasional cosmic oddity.