U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO)

Can you visit U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO)? No regular public access

No public tours of USNO facilities (per USNO FAQ).

For telescope views near U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO), see the observatories open to the public and astronomy clubs nearby; clubs hold free public star parties.

Telescopes at U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO)

26-inch refractor.

How dark the sky is at U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO)

U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) has no Bortle rating in the list yet. The scale below shows what each class looks like.

Sky brightness and class come from the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness (Falchi et al. 2016, CC BY-NC 4.0), with natural skyglow added, at the coordinates below. Research telescopes are often sited on mountains above the haze, so the real sky can be darker than the map suggests.

U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) among the observatories of District of Columbia

Green dots are observatories open to the public, blue dots research or private sites, squares dark sky places; select one for its page. See District of Columbia observatories for the full list.

The coordinates on this page point to zip 20392 (approximate): 38.893°N, 77.015°W.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open the larger map · Directions. Mountain observatory roads are often gated after dark; go only on a scheduled public night.

Dark sky places, observatories and clubs near U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO)

Nearest dark sky places

Other observatories open to the public within 150 km

• George Mason ObservatoryFairfax, Virginia, 27 km (17 mi). Free public tours Wed, Thu, Sat late Aug-late Apr; Evenings Under the Stars talks with telescope tours during the academic year
• Crosby Ramsey Memorial ObservatoryBaltimore, Maryland, 53 km (33 mi). Rooftop observatory at Maryland Science Center; daytime sungazing and Friday evening stargazing events (see calendar)
• Maryland Space Grant ObservatoryBaltimore, Maryland, 60 km (37 mi). Free open houses on scheduled Friday evenings with the Morris W. Offit telescope (check observatory updates)
• Morgan County ObservatoryBerkeley Springs, West Virginia, 125 km (78 mi). Morgan County Observatory Foundation public stargazing and talks; new telescope first-light open house Mar 2026
• Keeble ObservatoryAshland, Virginia, 135 km (84 mi). Free open viewing nights during the semester (e.g. Apr 9, 2026)
• Naylor ObservatoryLewisberry, Pennsylvania, 140 km (87 mi). Astronomical Society of Harrisburg public observing nights at Naylor Observatory on scheduled weekend evenings (see ASH calendar)

Astronomy clubs within 150 km

• National Capital AstronomersBethesda, Maryland, 16 km (10 mi). Meets Monthly Sep-Jun at University of Maryland Observatory, College Park
• Astronomical Society of GreenbeltGreenbelt, Maryland, 17 km (10 mi). Meets Monthly, 7:30 pm
• Northern Virginia Astronomy ClubFairfax, Virginia, 27 km (17 mi). Meets Usually 2nd Sunday monthly, 7:30 pm
• Howard Astronomical LeagueColumbia, Maryland, 38 km (24 mi). Meets Monthly Thursday, 7 pm
• Southern Maryland Astronomical SocietyMarbury, Maryland, 39 km (24 mi). Meets Observing sessions on Saturdays nearest third quarter and new moon at Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center

Star parties near U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO)

Planning a trip? Astrotourism in District of Columbia puts the dark sky places, observatories, clubs, star parties, planetariums and science centers of the state on one map, with the best night out worked out.

U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) record

From the site's observatories dataset (observatories_q426). Distances are computed from the coordinates.