FPOA Member Home
Upcoming Events
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This schedule includes both public events and events for members only. Please see the full schedule for future dates.
Observing at FPOA
- Our newsletter, the FPOA Observer
- Why FPOA is a great observing location
- What's in the sky right now?
- Currently Observable Comets
- This week's Sky at a glance from Sky and Telescope
- Skywatching at space.com
- What's up in the sky tonight from Beckstrom Observatory
- For detailed guidelines about using the observing pads, telescopes, and facilities, please see Training Materials below.
- Important New Roof Opening Procedure
- The advice about flashlights and clothing from our tips for observing page applies equally well when observing on days other than public programs.
- If you have guests as part of your group when observing, please direct them to our main page for information about getting here and what to expect.
Cameras Viewing Fremont Peak
Two Fire Cameras are either located at Fremont Peak or will sometimes point toward it.
- CalFire Fremont Peak This camera is located among the radio towers. During the day the camera scans around the peak (sometimes pointing to us). If this camera is in clouds the peak is in clouds.
- Henrietta Peak This camera is on the east side of Hollister. When pointing Southwest it shows the entire peak plus the Salinas Valley.
Note:Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari are supported browsers for the ALERTWildfire website. Edge is not supported.
Weather forecasts
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[NEW]
Reeve Ranch Observation
- closest weather station to FPOA
We may shut down above 80% humidity
- closest weather station to FPOA
- The Observatory is located at a Latitude and Longitude of:
36.7602 N 121.4987 W
36 45.614' N 121 29.922' W
36 45' 36.8" N 121 29' 55.4" W - The altitude of the Observatory Pads are approximately 2800 feet (850 m)
- replace me
- replace me too
- Standard public forecasts: Mountains, Valley
- Current and recent conditions at Salinas airport -- Reports current cloud bases and coverage, up to 12,000'.
- Forecast conditions at Salinas Airport -- Forecasts cloud bases and coverage 18 hours out. Only gives ceilings (bases), not cloud tops.
- Ft Ord Profiler Shows whether there is a temperature inversion that will keep the clouds below us. If it is warmer at 3,000 ft than on the ground that is an inversion
- Latest GOES West satellite Now GOES-17
- Rob Hawley's Weather Page Local Weather plus summary of Satellite
- Current Sun Activity
- Sunspot Activity (What we will see in the "White Light" scope) UCLA SpaceWeather Soho Satellite
- Solar Prominences (what we will see in the H-alpha Scope)
- Medium/High clouds will affect visibility at FPOA.
- Low clouds may affect visibility. See the aviation forecast to see if the clouds are low (~ 800 feet, good) or higher (~ 2000 ft, bad).
- Note: The humidity forecast is for the surface not at FPOA
Join FPOA
The Fremont Peak Observatory Association is a volunteer-driven nonprofit, devoted to interpreting astronomy to the public. We rely on your support to continue our educational programs.
Join or renew your membership.
Donate to FPOA.
Additional Resources for Members
Administration & Training:
- FPOA Reservation Procedure
- Private FPOA resources, available to members only
- Usage rules about the Observatory area
- Checklists for operating the Challenger
More about FPOA:
- Printable PDF brochure about FPOA
- Mission Statement
- FPOA History
- 2019 SBQ/Members Meeting
Research projects at FPOA:
Misc:
Projects:
- Recently completed: Building a new west deck at the observatory
2019 Renovation
The board decided in 2018 to perform a major renovation of the observatory. Work did not actually commence until Fall of 2019 and will be completed when construction is allowed to resume.
This gallery describes the renovation in detail.
FPOA funded this work thanks to the donations of our Life Members.