Entry No. 147 — the Denver file — filed under: observatory
Little Thompson Observatory
The Little Thompson Observatory is a fully volunteer-run public observatory on the Berthoud High School campus, housing a 24-inch Mount Wilson telescope that was used to map the lunar surface for Apollo mission landing site selection — you can peer through the same optics that helped put humans on the moon. Free public star nights run on the third Friday of each month, drawing hundreds of visitors with trained volunteer astronomers on hand.
The move: Arrive for the free Public Star Night (third Friday of the month, doors open 7 pm, program at 7:30 pm) — listen to a short talk from a volunteer astronomer, then take turns at the 24-inch Apollo-era scope to view planets, nebulae, or star clusters, and ask the staff to tell you the story of how the telescope helped choose where the Apollo landers would touch down.
📍 Before you go The observatory hides on the east grounds of Berthoud High School — a blue building with two white domes, tucked behind the school near the running track, so you won’t see it until you’ve nearly passed the campus on this small-town drive north of Denver. Park in the big lighted high-school lot just east of the school, since the few spaces by the domes fill fast. The public star nights are walk-in (no reservations), but everything rides on clear skies — check the forecast and dress warm, as Front Range nights turn cold quickly. Pair it with a daytime loop around nearby Carter Lake.
- 📍 Berthoud
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 850 Spartan Ave, Berthoud, CO 80513
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: starkids.org · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-07