The Paul Morgan Observatory (PMO) is designed to provide onsite and online viewings of the sun and night sky and is the only public observatory in southern Oregon, and is the only all-digital observatory in the Northwest.
Outdoor Viewing Events
Star Party Viewing Events
- Oct 5, 6:00 p.m.: Southern skies
- Oct. 13, 8:00 p.m.: Nebula, star clusters and planets
Annular Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
- The Ring of Fire: Watch as the Moon creates a fiery ring around the Sun, leaving a glowing halo in the sky.
- Unique Shadows: Witness the peculiar crescent-shaped shadows on the ground, creating a stunning natural spectacle.
- Changing Colors: Observe the shifting colors of the landscape as the sunlight dwindles
Outdoor events: Cloudy or clear, we will have an event. Only rain will cause us to cancel. Park in the lower lot at the Technology Center and walk uphill. Please arrive early for handicapped parking available at the top of the hill. Admission is free.
The observatory also provides outreach to schools and other groups online and provides onsite tours.
Observatory History
The Paul Morgan Observatory was designed and built by UCC professor Dr. Paul Morgan in 2016 as part of the beginning astronomy program and community outreach. It provides onsite and online viewings of the Sun and night sky, is the only public observatory in southern Oregon, and is the only all-digital observatory in the Northwest.
Visit the Observatory
School visits to the observatory, either online or on site are available as weather permits. Please email the observatory to arrange a visit for either day (solar) or night time observing. Schools that want to visit online should email for arrangements and a special link for either daytime (solar) or night time (night sky) observing.
The observatory is located near the Tower Building at UCC. Limited parking is available around the Tower Building. However, there is more parking down the hill from the observatory in front of the Technology Center. For more information, see map.
The observatory is handicap accessible and is designed for wheelchair viewing of the TV monitors. Images are seen in real-time in color on large screen TV monitors allowing for group presentations. Simultaneously, the presentations with images can be broadcast online.
Science Elective
Each summer, students can enroll in GS107 – Beginning Astronomy. This 4 credit transferable science class with lab is available online but encourages local students to come to the observatory several times during the 9-week term starting in July. More distant students can access the observatory imaging sessions remotely via Zoom. This is a great class to take in order to fulfill a science elective for many programs of study.