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How to dress for your visit

Our Observatory is located in Placerville, California at about 1,600 ft. elevation. The Observatory will be open during the summer months and during the winter when it is not cloudy. The Observatory has no heat. It's unique design allows the entire roof to slide away so that the telescopes inside, and you, can see the sky. So the temperature inside the Observatory will be about the same as the outside temperature. The Observatory building itself may often be so filled with people that many will have to wait outside. So dress as if you were going to be outside, not in a building.

During the summer months, many evenings may be quite warm. But some evenings can be very cool. Dress comfortably for typical summer evening and night activities. BUT, always bring along a jacket or sweater in case it turns cool. You can leave your jacket or sweater in the car and retrieve it if you get cold. It is also suggested that men, women, boys, and girls wear long slacks, even during the summer months. If it turns cold, you will become cold quickly if you are wearing shorts or dresses.

During the winter months, some of the best months for Observatory activities, it will always be cold and often, it will be very cold or even freezing. Occasionally there may be snow on the ground from light snow storms on previous days. It is important that you dress warmly! Dress as if you were going skiing or dress as if you were going up to play in the snow. Dress with several layers of clothing so that you can add or remove layers to make yourself comfortable. It is also important that you wear waterproof shoes or boots. If your feet get wet or damp you will be very uncomfortable. Bring along warm gloves to keep your hands warm and a cap to keep your head warm. You can see from the picture on the right taken from the Observatory position in March, that the snow is not very far away!

We guarantee you that you will have a miserable experience at our Observatory if you are freezing the whole time you are here. There are no cozy campfires and there are no heaters. Plan ahead and fill your car with plenty of winter clothing for you and all of your family and you will have an enjoyable observing experience.

On cold winter evenings you may be tempted to get in your car for a warm up. Please exercise extreme caution if you are sitting in your car with the motor running. You may be at extreme risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you have even the slightest leak in your exhaust system. We advise you avoid this practice altogether.