Hidden Mountain Observatory is an independent, privately funded observatory on private property, presenting fun and educational star parties to guests of Appalachian GhostWalks with tours of the night sky. These can be combined with various other tour activities and for full details, available on our sister website, click here. We are open for private parties and for more information on scheduling, please visit the Appalachian GhostWalks Party Page. You may safely and securely schedule and book your party online up to one year in advance.
We are located in the high mountains of East Tennessee with Bortal 4 sky conditions. When clear skies prevail, the seeing conditions can be quite good here on a dark night with the Milky Way stretched out overhead during the spring, summer, and fall of the year. While "seeing" conditions can vary greatly, due to various ever changing climatic factors, in general, on a good, clear night you can see the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and many other celestial wonders with the unaided eye. We will soon be presenting orginal and breathtaking images of the cosmic background surrounding our beautiful planet...
Have your own equipment, but lack a good, dark sky site to take full advantage of your optics? Gather your friends together and plan a star party. An unforgettable evening of mutual indulgence of a shared passion for the night sky. We have some of the darkest skies and brightest stars east of the Mississippi River. Send a text to (423) 743-9255 for availability information and start planning now for your evening out under the stars!!!
Also, if you would like to show your support and become a "Friend of Hidden Mountain Observatory", please join our Astronomy club, Hidden Mountain Astronomical Society (HMAS)", dedicated to like-minded individuals, all mutually fascinated by the night sky and interested in the furtherance of our understanding and appreciation of the Heavens above. For further information on HMAS, or to join our growing community of Astronomy enthusiasts, click here.
Finally, it is our prayer and hope that this work will be a blessing to all who behold it and participate in our various educational endeavors, inspired by the beauty of the heaven's above, giving glory to the Creator who made the stars and calls them by name! God's blessings to you and yours!!
Photos of Hidden Mountain Observatory
Completed in December of 2023, the Observatory telescope building as well as the observation and runway platforms are finished! Here are some of the latest pictures. We hope to add a dome and a pier for a more permanent housing for the observatory's main telescope at a later time, as funding and resources become available.
The first photo is of our beautiful new Telescope purchased for the Observatory. It is an LX850 fourteen inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain on a German equitorial mount with computerized guidance using Starlock technology. We will posting beautiful astrographs of the night sky here soon!
Click on each thumbnail to enlarge the image!! Enjoy!!!
