Explore the Wonders of the Universe

Join us for stargazing events at our observatory.

Discover the Wonders of Valmont Observatory - Upcoming Event

September 12 Star Party Delayed to September 19

Due to forecasted cloudy conditions on September 12, we are rescheduling our next star-party to Friday, September 19th, starting at 8:30. VOG volunteers should arrive at 6:30 to help prepare for activities.

Since there is road construction on 61st street, we recommend parking in the church parking lot at the address in the tag below. From the church parking lot, walk to the back of the church, toward the lake. From the back, walk north toward the observatory. You should be able to see the red lights of the observatory. It is highly recommended to bring your own lawn chair, bug spray and bottled water.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own telescope.

At the beginning of the event on September 19th, we should be able to see many of the deep-sky objects in the middle of the Milky Way in the constellation Sagittarius . As the evening progresses we will see some beautiful galaxies such as Andromeda and Pinwheel Galaxies as well as planetary nebulae, such as the dumbbell nebula. It is our intention to complete a half-Messier Marathon and view at least 55 Messier objects. This is an open event, and guests are encouraged to bring friends.

Research Areas

Discover the research areas and projects conducted by the Valmont Observatory researchers. Learn about the cutting-edge technologies and methods used in our studies of exoplanets, dark matter, and cosmology. The observatory's founder worked on the Hubble and James Webb telescopes, as well as numerous other scientific missions for NASA and the European Space Agency.

Education Resources

In August of 2025, the VOG hosted the Boy and Girls Scouts from Boulder for a memorable event. The event kicked off with pizza and a warm welcome from our club members, who shared their passion for astronomy with the young scouts. We started with a presentation on Astronomy and science and the potential for careers and sharing the love of astronomy.

We shared stories of famous astronomers and connected the evening’s observations to the scouts’ merit badge requirements, ensuring the experience was both educational and rewarding. The Boulder Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts brought incredible energy to the event, and their enthusiasm reminded us all why we love sharing our passion for astronomy. The event was a testament to the power of community collaboration, blending the scouts’ adventurous spirit with our club’s dedication to exploring the cosmos.

Contact us for homeschooling, scouting or other educational opportunities.

Access Resources

Join the Community

Join the Valmont Observatory community and participate in our events, discussions, and collaborations. Connect with fellow astronomy enthusiasts and researchers from around the world.

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Church and Science?

Valmont Observatory Group

• Why Does a Church Have an Observatory?

• The More Science Unravels the Mysteries of the Universe, the More it is Clear God Created the Heavens and the Earth

The Strickler-Crowe Observatory and the Travis Telescope Has Been Dedicated as an Outreach to the Community and Benefit to Members for Our Edification and Enjoyment
The Boulder Area is a Center for Scientific Research and Development, We Believe Our Observatory Will Attract Interest and Stimulate Discussions About Faith and Science

Our History and Mission

Back in March of 2007, Dr. Stew Strickler, Mr. Ken Crowe and several members of Valmont Church were discussing the Boulder area, and the large scientific community. We stimulated the idea of building an observatory to attract more like-minded individuals to Valmont Church, and the Valmont Observatory Group was born. By August of that year, a 12” computerized telescope was donated to this effort. Over the years, we had several star parties and topical discussion events, however, without an observatory with aligned telescope and permanent structure we did not hold events as often as we wanted.

In 2024, members of Valmont Church organized, fabricated and dedicated a 10-foot diameter professional Observatory, complete with a state-of-the-art telescope mounted on a permanent pier. The Valmont Observatory Group (VOG) plans to hold multiple events for church members and the public, with our new capabilities.

In addition to astronomical events, we are planning to have guest lecture to discuss latest advances in astrophysical theories, space telescope technology as well as discussions on how faith and science are not mutually exclusive.

Astrophotography is another key objective of the VOG. Our new telescope has advanced optics and has significantly more capabilities for deep-sky photography than our previous telescopes. The VOG efforts are intended to provide knowledge entertainment, and fellowship to our members, as well as provide an outreach to the public to introduce our church to the community. We look forward to contacting home-school and private school organizations to discuss astronomy and introduce our facilities to the public.

Explore the Wonders of the Universe