Community Observatory, Placerville

About Community Observatory

The Community Observatory in Placerville serves as a public facility for viewing the night sky through large reflecting telescopes. Visitors observe stars, planets, and the moon using the observatory's 17-inch and 14-inch reflecting telescopes on clear nights. The facility tracks planetary movements and lunar features as they traverse the sky. Located in the foothills of El Dorado County, the observatory welcomes families and groups interested in astronomy and stargazing. The facility operates on a schedule that visitors should check before planning a trip, as closures are announced by 3 p.m. on scheduled event days. The observatory hosts special viewing events, including meteor shower observations such as the Perseid and Geminid showers. A blog and calendar document upcoming celestial events and viewing opportunities. The facility operates as a community resource dedicated to accessible astronomy education and observation.