Rancho Mirage Observatory
Rancho Mirage, California
Observatory Overview
Location: Rancho Mirage, California
Model: 22’6″ diameter Model MEBH Ash-Dome with hand-held remote control
Website: https://ranchomiragelibrary.
Telescope: https://planewave.com/
The City of Rancho Mirage Observatory, which officially opened on March 25, 2018, is a teaching and learning tool for all ages, intended to further public understanding of our night skies while offering new programming opportunities in astronomy. The Observatory plays an integral role in the growth of the Rancho Mirage Library’s campus. Constructed adjacent to the Library’s western entrance, the addition of this research level facility underscores the Library’s commitment to lifelong learning, education for all ages, and a focus on the sciences. In addition to onsite tours, telescope viewing and group stargazing with individually owned telescopes, the Observatory will be able to transmit images into locations within the Library, creating limitless possibilities for educational programming and activities for all ages and levels of expertise.
Inside the dome sits a PlaneWave CDK700 telescope, part of a project coordinated by the City of Rancho Mirage with contractor Sea West Enterprises.
Observatory Systems joined the team to automate the ASH Manufacturing dome and to design and install the observing automation system. Their work included integrating weather and computing systems, as well as automating the PlaneWave Instruments CDK700 itself. In addition, Observatory Systems designed the layout of the “Cosmic Office,” a space where users can both access telescope data and control its operations.