Three treks on terra firma take you closer to the stars
SPACE Premium Edition, Mercury News
January 21, 2024 – The Robert Ferguson Observatory (RFO) in Sonoma County is truly a citizen’s observatory. Named for Bob Ferguson, an amateur Petaluma astronomer who built telescopes for children, it holds the largest publicly accessible telescope in Northern California…..The observatory’s grounds in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park are home to a unique citizen-designed hike as well: the Planet Walk. It’s a 4.5-mile journey that simulates the distances between our sun and the planets, with each step you take representing 1 million miles.
Hidden Sonoma County Gems to Discover in Fall
Via, AAA Magazine
September + October 2023 – “With several powerful telescopes, the observatory is the largest in Northern California completely dedicated to public viewing.”
Sonoma County residents get glimpse of Ring of Fire eclipse
Photo Credit: Kent Porter, The Press Democrat
The Press Democrat
October 14, 2023 – “It was really cool, pretty emotional,” said Eric McHenry, who joined about 150 people at an eclipse viewing party at the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood’s Sugarloaf State Park.
Kenwood observatory hosting solar eclipse party Saturday
Photo Credit: David Kent, AP Photo/The Forth Worth Star-Telegram
The Press Democrat
October 11, 2023 – While the “ring of fire” effect — when the moon crosses in front of the sun but does not fully cover it — that occurs during annular eclipses won’t be fully visible in Sonoma County, locals will see a partial eclipse, said Jack Welch, a docent at the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood’s Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Seeing Stars! Dark-sky camping for the best stargazing
Airstream Life
Fall 2023 Issue– “When we have public stargazing programs at the observatory, most people don’t care about the nebulae, galaxies and double stars that are really far away, but they’re excited to see Jupiter, the Big Dipper, Mars, Saturn’s rings, and everyday constellations like Cassiopeia and Pisces.” – Eric McHenry, International President of Airstream Club International and Board President of the Robert Ferguson Observatory
57 ° Magazine
July 17, 2023 – While the exquisite fruits of Sonoma County’s soil draw visitors from around the world, there is also endless wonder to be found in the county’s skies.
Teen musicians rock Petaluma’s Phoenix Theater to benefit Robert Ferguson Observatory
Photo Credit: Darryl Bush, The Press Democrat
The Press Democrat
May 10, 2023 – Teen musicians rocked out in Petaluma May 6 in support of an organization helping young people reach for the stars.
Meteor shower, ‘Flower Moon’ in the skies this week above Northern California
Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren, AP Photo
The Press Democrat
May 4, 2023 – “The significance of having several events in the sky at once is simply that it is more exciting to go out and look up at the sky,” Rachel Freed, amateur astronomer, educator and docent at Robert Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood, wrote in an email.
From Planning to Stargazing: Everything You Need to Know About DIY Backyard Observatories
Porch
April 14, 2023 – For many telescope enthusiasts, space photographers, and amateur astronomers, stargazing is more than just a hobby – it’s a passion.
The Lyrids Are Our First Chance to See Some Shooting Stars This Year
Photo Credit: Jeff Sullivan via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Bay Nature
April 13, 2023 – Born of comets, meteors are the little specks of dust that could.
Five Striking Sparks winners to be awarded telescopes
The Community Voice
March 24, 2023 – This is the 38th year of the competition, a program facilitated by the Robert Ferguson Observatory that awards telescopes to Sonoma County students to promote science education and interest in astronomy.
At This Sonoma Park, You Can Walk to Pluto
Bay Nature
March 22, 2023 – The cosmos awaits you at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
3 Sonoma students honored by astronomy program
Sonoma Index Tribune
April 6, 2022 – Three Sonoma Valley students were awarded telescopes Thursday by Striking Sparks, a program that promotes science education and interest in astronomy.
The Community Voice
April 15, 2022 – Five Students Awarded Telescopes at the Striking Sparks Ceremony.
Sonoma County Gazette
January 21, 2022 – Robert Ferguson Observatory Announces Access Program for Low-Income Families.
Robert Ferguson Observatory joins Museums for All
Sonoma Index-Tribune
Photo Credit: Robbi Pengelly / Index-Tribune
January 20, 2022 – The Robert Ferguson Observatory has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Association of Children’s Museums, to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits.
Explore the night sky at Robert Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood
The Press Democrat
Photo Credit: Kent Porter / The Press Democrat
October 1, 2021 – On a recent weekday night inside a dark, open-roofed dome at Robert Ferguson Observatory, longtime volunteer David Kensiski turned a 40-inch-diameter telescope toward the first planetary nebula he discovered when he was 15 years old.
RFO opens up the eyes of the world
Sonoma Index-Tribune
July 8, 2021 – Even the heavens are glad the pandemic is in remission — with well over half of Sonoma County fully vaccinated, it’s time to reopen the doors of the big scopes to the public at Robert Ferguson Observatory on Saturday, July 10.
Firefighters build defenses to protect Robert Ferguson Observatory from Glass fire
The Press Democrat
Photo Credit: Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat
September 30, 2020 – Tree branches were still smoldering on the ground about 20 yards behind Robert Ferguson Observatory on Wednesday afternoon, their moon-like ash providing blips of contrast to the blackened hillsides where firefighters had spent two days doing controlled burns.
Northbay Biz
December 26, 2019 – “The Robert Ferguson Observatory is one of Sonoma County’s best kept secrets.”