Gunnison Valley Observatory

05/15/2026

🌌 Ready to capture the Milky Way over the Gunnison Valley?

The Gunnison Valley Observatory is hosting an exciting Astrophotography Workshop Series this summer — whether you’re a total beginner with just a cell phone or ready to dive into deep space imaging. 📸✨

🔹 BEGINNER SESSIONS
📅 July 9 OR July 16, 2026
💲 $20
Learn how to photograph:
• The Milky Way with your phone or DSLR
• Deep Sky Objects with star trackers & smart telescopes
• Image setup + editing basics
• Hands-on observing under the stars

No experience needed — just curiosity and a love of the night sky.

🔹 INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED SERIES
📅 August 6 + August 13, 2026
💲 $50 (includes one required beginner session!)

Dive deeper into:
🌠 Nebulae & galaxy imaging
🔭 Smart telescopes & astro rigs
💻 Data collection + image processing
📷 Turning raw data into stunning astrophotos

Participants will also receive real observatory data to practice with at home.

✨ Workshops are limited to just 12 participants, so sign up early!

Instructors: Dave Clayton & Chris Ashford — experienced astrophotographers and GVO volunteers.

👉 Register here: https://www.gunnisonvalleyobservatory.org/register/p/basic-astrophotography-workshop

Questions? Contact Dave Clayton at [email protected]

Come learn one of the most rewarding hobbies under some of Colorado’s darkest skies. 🌌

Beginner-friendly — no experience needed BASIC: July 9 & July 16 (same workshop offered twice — choose one date) Learn the fundamentals of astrophotography + hands-on night sky shooting (cellphone, cameras, telescopes). Cost: $20 per person INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED: August 6 (Data Captu

04/25/2026

The engineering students did a great job presenting their GVO secondary mirror project at the WCU Engineering Expo yesterday!

04/18/2026

The elves (students) have been busy this winter at GVO! For their capstone project a group of mechanical engineering and computer science students redesigned the structure holding the secondary mirror on the 30" telescope and created new telescope control software to replace the incredibly outdated software we'd been using. Over the last two weeks the students have re-installed the secondary mirror, installed the new software, and spent hours aligning, testing, and getting everything working. With the new systems, the telescope is able to produce clearer and sharper views than ever before! We are so excited to share these new views with everyone when we open in June! In the meantime, the students will be presenting their project at Western's Engineering Expo on April 23rd: https://events.western.edu/event/engineering-expo - this event is open to the public, so come and see all the work they put into this. They'll even have a 1/3-sized scale model to show.

04/02/2026

Our 2026 Season Tickets are LIVE! Astronomy Talks, Dome Tours, and Premier Astronomy Nights are waiting for you. If you haven't visited this iconic Gunnison Valley attraction, this is your year.

Carpe Noctem—Seize the Night!

Visit Us and FAQ’s We look forward to welcoming you to the Observatory this summer!Open Fridays and Saturdays June 20 - August 30, 2025.   ASTRONOMY TALKSClick to register yourself and/or your group for a family-friendly astronomy talk. We are hosting astronomy talks on a variety of topics on Fri...

10/20/2025

Check out the Orionid meteor shower tonight! The moon is new and conditions in Gunnison are clear tonight, so viewing should be great.

The American Meteor Society, Ltd. is established to inform, encourage, and support the research activities of people who are interested in the field of Meteor Astronomy

10/14/2025

Check out the new ADA parking and ramps at GVO! Looking forward to easier access for all next summer!

08/30/2025

All programs for tonight, 8/29 have been canceled due to rain.

08/30/2025

The phone and internet is currently down. We will be presenting the lecture at 8:45. Dome tour and viewing is looking unlikely due to cloud cover.

07/28/2025

This Weekend at the Observatory!

Friday 8/1
Astronomy Talk (starts at 9:00 PM): Constellations, Stories in the Sky – Suzanne TaylorDome Tours: 9:35 PM, 10:10 PM

Saturday 8/2
Astronomy Talk (starts at 9:00 PM): The Prime Meridian: Where East Meets West – Chris AshfordDome Tours: 9:35 PM, 10:10 PM

Small telescope viewing following the astronomy talk on both nights

Carpe Noctem—Seize the Night This Weekend at the Observatory! Friday 7/25Astronomy Talk (starts at 9:00 PM): Astrophotography 101: Capturing Photons from the Unseen – Dave ClaytonDome Tours: 9:35 PM, 10:10 PMSaturday 7/26Astronomy Talk (starts at 9:00 PM): Astrophotography 101: Capturing Photons...

07/23/2025

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We just had 3 spots open up for a deluxe dome tour on Sunday July 27!

Enjoy an extended viewing experience of the cosmos through our iconic 30” telescope. With a limited number of guests and more time with the telescope, this evening provides a truly deluxe experience! Program begins at 10:00 PM and lasts approximately 1 hour.

05/17/2025

Public nights for the Gunnison Valley Observatory start June 13th and run though the end of August (possibly into September). This year we are offering public talks every Friday and Saturday evening and a variety of viewing options including Full Moon Dome Tours, Regular Dome Tours, Deluxe Dome Tours, and Premier Nights! Tickets are selling fast - get yours at www.gunnisonvalleyobservatory.org