Welcome to the Bare Dark Sky Observatory!

View Park Event Calendar
August ESP Newsletter                                  Current Sky Map      

The Bare Dark Sky Observatory is located within the Mayland Earth to Sky Park in Burnsville, NC. The observatory is home to one of the largest public telescopes in the southeastern US and is handicap and wheelchair accessible.

We are an International Dark Sky Park and the grounds are open to the public with 24-hour access to the parking area for stargazing. Access to the telescopes in the observatory building is only open for ticketed events. Tickets are required to be purchased in advance through Eventbrite.

If weather conditions are poor, the event is moved into Mayland Earth to Sky Park’s Glenn and Carol Arthur Planetarium. 

Community Viewing Nights (Ticketed Event)

Join us for an evening of stargazing as you’ve never seen before! Depending on the time of year and the moon phase, visitors will be able to view the moon, planets, and stars through our 34″ diameter mirror on our custom-built Newtonian telescope, as well as our smaller 14″ mirror Meade planetary telescope. With the assistance of two of our astronomers, visitors will spend two hours viewing and learning about the night sky.

Parking is available at the Observatory, including a handicap parking space close to the building. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your designated time to the parking lot located at the Observatory. Dress comfortably for nighttime weather, as it is sometimes chilly in the mountain air. Closed-toed shoes and flashlights are highly recommended.

Named the “Sam Scope” in memory of Samuel Phillips, the telescope is an f/3.6 StarStructure Newtonian telescope, with a 34 inch (0.86 meters) mirror. It is the largest telescope in the Southeast US dedicated to public use.

The Samuel L. Phillips Family Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, provided funding for the fabrication of the telescope. To see our telescope mirror, CLICK HERE and scroll about halfway down the page to see our “34″ f/3.6 visual Newtonian.”

Visiting When Observatory is Closed

We are an International Dark Sky Park and the grounds are open to the public with 24-hour access to the parking area for stargazing. 
Stargazers are welcome at the Earth to Sky Park when the Observatory is closed. However, caution is necessary. Please remember that lighting is kept to a minimum so that we preserve our dark skies. Bring a flashlight and be prepared to walk on uneven terrain. If the gate is closed, please park just outside the gate, on the right-hand side of the road and walk around the gate on foot.

Access to the Telescopes in the Observatory building is only open for ticketed events. Tickets are required to be purchased in advance through Eventbrite.

Terms and Conditions

• From parking area, be prepared to walk up an inclined pathway with some steps as you make your way through the moon gardens to the Observatory building. There is one handicap parking space and the Observatory building and three telescope viewing stations (located outside the building) are handicap and wheelchair accessible via a sidewalk and ramp.
• In order to look through the Sam telescope, you will need to be able to climb two to three steps of a rolling safety ladder.
• You will be outside the entire viewing time.
• The Observatory will not be open during inclement weather (rain, snow, clouds, etc.). You will be notified via email of any inclement weather or cancellation 24 to 36 hours in advance. With the opening of the Glenn and Carol Arthur Planetarium, we can now offer an alternative two-hour astronomy experience option on evenings the Observatory is unavailable due to weather conditions. If the weather forecast is not favorable for outdoor stargazing, we will send out an email the day before to inform you that the astronomy event has been moved into the planetarium. Please plan to arrive at the Arthur Planetarium ten to fifteen minutes prior to event time. If you decide you do not want to attend the indoor astronomy experience, let us know prior to the start of the event by calling the Earth to Sky Park Visitor's Center, during operating hours at 828-470-7584, and we will have Eventbrite issue you a refund, minus their minimal processing fee. For Visitor Center Hours and more information on the Arthur Planetarium, go to www.mayland.edu/planetarium. 
• Please note that you will be at the Observatory and Earth to Sky Park at your own risk and will hold Mayland Community College and the Mayland Community College Foundation harmless in the event of an incident.
• Mayland Community College is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged articles.
• Please use caution as the terrain is uneven.
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the viewing time to allow time to park and make your way up to the Observatory. Late arrivals will be admitted with valid tickets, however all viewings will start at their designated time due to the time sensitive nature of the sky. It is recommended that those unfamiliar with the Earth to Sky Park come during daylight hours to familiarize themselves with how to get to the Observatory and where to park.

International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Certification

The Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina have stood as silent witnesses to the uninterrupted, nightly rain of starlight for nearly a half-billion years, but artificial light now threatens this nightly show. In honor of notable local efforts to preserve the natural nighttime landscape of western North Carolina, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) designated the Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Observatory as the first IDA-certified Star Park in the southeastern United States. The Blue Ridge Astronomy Group (BRAG), a local amateur astronomy society, was instrumental in supporting MCC’s application to the Dark Sky Places Program.

For More Information on the IDA with a link to: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/parks/mayland/