A UM student poses in front of a celestial image projected in University of Montana's Planetarium.

Physics and Astronomy

Summer Public Shows

Join UM astronomers and Western Montana Astronomical Association (WMAA) members at the Blue Mountain Observatory this summer for our stargazing nights. In addition to our 16-inch telescope, our volunteer astronomers and student staff will have a variety of telescopes set up outside the dome and will be happy to discuss any questions you may have about astronomical instrumentation. They are available to talk about what you are seeing through the telescopes, discuss current discoveries, point out constellations, share star stories from different cultures, and demonstrate how to find interesting celestial objects with the unaided eye or a pair of binoculars. (It's fun to bring binoculars if you have them.)

Public Observing nights are ticketed events, and attendance is capped at 75 people.

Schedule

Our Open House schedule for summer 2026 is:
  • Friday, June 19th – 10:30 pm
  • Saturday, July 11th – 10:30 pm
  • Friday, July 17th – 10:30 pm
  • Saturday, August 8th – 10:00 pm
  • Friday, August 14th – 10:00 pm
  • Saturday, September 12th – 9:00 pm
  • Friday, September 18th – 8:30 pm

Tickets

TICKETS NOT YET ON SALE. Following us on Facebook is the easiest way to find out when tickets go on sale.

 

Make a Gift

All donations keep BMO in good repair and open to the public. We appreciate any support you feel inspired to give; no donation is too small. Please consider adding a donation to your ticket purchase, or contact Karie Hyslop if you would like to make a donation outside of a ticket purchase.

If your observation evening must be canceled due to weather, clouds, or smoke, we automatically refund all ticket fees for that night.

Important Information

To ensure a safe and enjoyable night for everyone, please be aware of the following:

  • For most people, the drive to the top of Blue Mountain takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour from downtown Missoula. The dirt road tends to develop a washboard surface but is passable to cars. There are a few spots that are a bit narrow for passing and have steep drop-offs, so please drive carefully and respect the fact that you will be sharing this back-country road with many other Blue Mountain guests. See our Directions Page for accurate driving directions before you head out.
  • There will be signs posted in the parking area near the fire lookout, indicating where to park and which path to walk down to reach the observatory. Please park so that you DO NOT block the road. Parking on the summit ridge is limited and we encourage guests to carpool whenever possible.
  • To ensure these events remain safe, family-friendly, and that you make it safely back down Blue Mountain: NO ALCOHOL OR SMOKING is permitted at the observatory.
  • Our observatory is located at an elevation of 6,300 feet. Even when summer days are hot in Missoula, it can get quite cold on the mountain. It always pays to bring more clothes (coat, hat, gloves, scarf) than you think you will need! You can always leave them in your car if it turns out you don't need them.
  • The observatory is about 400 yards down a rough dirt road from where you will park. You should have comfortable walking shoes and a good flashlight or headlamp for your walk to and from the observatory.
  • If we have to cancel: Viewing nights will be canceled if the sky is cloudy, thunderstorms threaten, or if there is significant smoke or there are nearby fires. We will post an announcement indicating whether the event will proceed on our Facebook page. For those who may not have convenient web access, we will also post a voicemail message confirming or canceling observing at (406) 243-2073. Messages may be posted as late as 7 pm the night of observing if conditions are highly uncertain. Make sure that you confirm we will be on the mountain before you go!

Useful Links