Haggart Observatory Public Nights
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Lunar Viewing at Haggart Observatory
Through a partnership with Clackamas Community College, RCA maintains the Haggart Observatory located at the John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center on the CCC campus in Oregon City. To offer the public a unique opportunity to access this rare community resource, RCA operates the observatory on select nights on behalf of CCC.
UPDATE!
Tentative dates for Haggart lunar observing in 2026 are below. Please note, events are subject to cancellation due to weather or insufficient numbers of volunteers.
As a reminder, visitors to the observatory will need to climb several flights of stairs to reach the main deck where volunteers will have a few small telescopes out. Visiting the 24” Dobsonian in the dome will require climbing an additional steep set of stairs with a handrail (roughly akin to climbing a permanent ladder). Flat, close-toed shoes are advised. Inside the dome are a rolling ladder and step stool which visitors may use to see through the eyepiece.
Be advised, Haggart will not be hosting an event for the March 3rd total lunar eclipse.
However, if you’re a very late night-owl or a very early riser, on the third hour of the third day of the third month, the moon will be totally covered by the Earth’s shadow. More details can be found here, but the total phase of the eclipse will last from 3:04 AM to 4:02 AM on the morning of March 3rd. The partial phases begin at 1:50 AM and end at 5:17 AM.
Check back here for any updates or cancellations to our regular moon-viewing nights.
The dates and times for 2026 are as follows:
Friday 3/27- Gibbous moon - 5:00-7:00 PM - Daylight (solar observing possible)
Saturday 3/28 - Gibbous moon - 7:00-9:00 PM - Sunset to twilight (Jupiter visible)
Friday 4/24 - Gibbous moon - 10:00-midnight - Fully dark (Jupiter visible)
Saturday 4/25- Gibbous moon - 9:00-11:00 PM - Twilight to dark (Jupiter visible)
Saturday 5/23 - First quarter - 10:00-midnight - Twilight to dark (Jupiter visible at start)
Saturday 6/20 - Crescent moon - 9:00-11:00 PM - Sunset to twilight (Venus visible at start)
Friday 9/25 - Full moon - 9:00-11:00 PM - Fully dark (Saturn visible)
Saturday 9/26 - (Nearly) full moon - 9:00-11:00 PM - Fully dark (Saturn visible)
Friday 10/23 - Gibbous moon - 7:00-9:00 - Fully dark (Saturn visible)
Saturday 10/24 - (Nearly) full moon - 7:00-9:00 - Fully dark (Saturn visible)
The annual star party nearby on CCC campus is tentatively planned for Thursday, August 27 to observe a nearly-total lunar eclipse which peaks at 9:12 PM. Time and location details pending.
And finally, this year’s International Observe the Moon Night is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th. The moon will be too low to observe from Haggart that night (it will be obscured by trees), but we are looking into alternative options to host an event on campus.
Light pollution in the Portland-metro area has been steadily getting worse..
Without traveling to darker skies, even large telescopes have a hard time seeing the fainter nebulae and star clusters beyond our solar system. Happily, many of the objects in our celestial backyard are bright enough to shine right through the worst city lights.
Because of this, at Haggart Observatory we're focusing on Earth's closest neighbor, the moon. While you can look up any day or night and have a 50% chance of seeing it (weather permitting), many people have never seen it in detail through a telescope.
Haggart Observatory houses an enormous telescope with a 24" mirror
…built nearly 40 years ago by a local prolific telescope-maker, Steve Swayze. Come visit the observatory this summer and see the craters filling the moon's Southern Highlands, cast in stark relief at their own local sunrise just as we're dipping into our own sunset.
Bring your enthusiasm for the night sky and any questions you may have for our volunteers!
Volunteering
RCA members who are interested in volunteering at the observatory during these events are encouraged to contact haggart@rosecityastronomers.org for operator training. Volunteers are also eligible to use the observatory on a limited basis for club observing time. Please note, due to liability insurance, all Haggart volunteers must be RCA members and must have signed the RCA volunteer code of conduct.
Group Viewing
Opportunities for group viewing at the observatory are limited, but we will do our best to accommodate requests. Please contact the observatory coordinator, Mike Reitmajer, at haggart@rosecityastronomers.org for more information. We cannot accommodate groups larger than 20 individuals.
Did you come to this page with questions about space?
Mike is an engineer by trade and not a professional astronomer, but if you have a pressing question about the night sky or space, he’ll see what he can do to answer you.
On most nights, RCA volunteers will also set up the observatory's smaller telescopes on the outdoor deck to look through in between visits to the largest telescope.
Please NOTE: call 503-594-6044 Option 1 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the event for a recorded announcement about the status of the night's event. Scheduled Public Nights might be cancelled on account of:
Poor sky conditions - generally any forecast for skies that are not at least "mostly clear." However, we are trying to have more non-telescope activities so we can still open on cloudy nights.
A lack of volunteers to open and coordinate the event.
Other circumstances affecting the safety of RCA volunteers and visiting guests.
If you plan on attending one of these Public Nights, please pay attention to the following:
Depending on the number of people showing up at any one time, you may have to wait your turn to view through the main telescope - and your viewing time may be limited in order to give others waiting a similar opportunity.
You will have to be physically able to climb stairs to reach the observing deck and a ladder to actually view through the telescope. Wear shoes without heels.
Please DO NOT bring flashlights of any kind. There is adequate local light to see the path to the observatory and climb the stairs.
Limited parking is located directly across from the observatory and in nearby lots.
Click on the Haggart Clear Sky Chart above to look at the prediction we generally rely on when making our decision whether or not to cancel an event based on sky conditions.
Driving Directions
From 1-205 (either direction) :
Take Exit 10 ("Park Place") onto Highway 213 headed east (towards Molalla)
Continue on Hwy 213 for about 3 miles up the canyon to the intersection with Beavercreek Road
Turn left onto Beavercreek Road (heading east)
At the second stop light, turn right - onto Clackamas Community College Campus.
Turn right at the stop sign onto South Douglas Loop Road
Turn right at the first road (Inskeep Drive)
Park in one of the lots on your left and walk across the street into the Environmental Learning Center and follow the signs to the Observatory
Other information about Haggart Observatory:
Groups and organizations interested in scheduling a private event at the Observatory should contact the RCA Haggart Observatory Coordinator
RCA Members should check out the Haggart Observatory section of the RCA Forum about how and when members can schedule personal use of the Observatory.
If you have any further question, contact the RCA Haggart Observatory Coordinator via email: haggart@rosecityastronomers.org
