Dedicated to and donated by Captain Willard C. Downs, a decorated veteran of two wars and retired from the United States Marine Corp, left this estate to his only son in great support of his newly found hobby of Astronomy. Along with his father's estate a donation of the observatory was added in 2005 by long time friend and fellow astronomer John Downing.

The Willard Observatory is one of the few full celestial astronomy sites located within 10 miles of the coast in southern California. The facility is dedicated to public outreach and education of the wonders of the night skies and the use of telescopes and cameras to explore and capture the heavens. Closely located and associated with Oceanside Photo & Telescope it makes a perfect training site for the novice or seasoned amateur astronomers and their telescopes and newly purchase equipment.

The observatory site is attached to a residence in the small coastal village of Vista California located in the foothills of the Palomar Mountain range and just a one-hour drive to the famous Hale 200-inch telescope. The location offers better than average skies year-round and is situated far enough from the coast and high enough in elevation to avoid many foggy nights. Nestled down below the horizon and blocked by the west and city lights a huge North and Southeasterly view is available with even the splendor of the Milky Way easily visible in the summer months. A minimum of four large telescope setup pads on a concrete runway is provided each with their own AC power, high-speed Internet, observing tables and chairs and the easiest polar alignment imaginable. Instruction and training lessons are available and performed by amateur astronomer John Downs. His expertise in this field spans over two decades with training in telescope electronics and CCD imaging on both amateur and professional levels. His knowledge is also the results of training with astronomers and imagers such as Jack Newton, Daniel Phillips, Adam Block and Palomar and Mt. Wilson Observatories. John has also worked at Meade Instruments and Oceanside Photo & Telescope in technical support over the years and held many lectures and classes on amateur astronomy, including his docent work at Palomar Observatory and here at the Willard.

Observing
A) Local
B) Dark skies
C) Object Identification
Telescope Operations
A) Setup
B) Polar & Object Alignment
C) Drift Alignment
D) Night Observing Sessions
Camera & CCD Operations
A) Setup
B) Focusing
C) Imaging
D) Guiding
E) Processing

The Willard Observatory will be continuing in the future to expand it’s facilities with an additional permanent pier and dome to help accommodate the growing number of people now interested in the field of amateur astronomy and to provide education and knowledge with telescopes, CCD cameras and the night sky.

Note: This site is not to be confused with a dark site but rather a local telescope and CCD camera training facility. Dark site tours and training classes can be scheduled in the nearby Anza Borrego Desert or Palomar Mountain along with tours of the 200" Hale Telescope.

Information inquires and schedules available at Oceanside Photo & Telescope. 1-800-483-6287 or direct at 1-760-940-4216.