Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO)

Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO) is a group of dome and roll-off roof observatories located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, dedicated to remote imaging and data acquisition. For professionals within the space tech industry, it provides a place in the Northern Hemisphere to place their telescopes for satellite or near-earth object tracking, missile tracking, and space communications.

SRO’s location is a top one of the first bluffs of the Sierra Nevada mountains, so the airflow over the site is still laminar, resulting in unique, for the continental US, arcsecond and late night sub-arcsecond seeing conditions. The site is very dark, being located in the Sierra National Forest. Situated at an elevation of 4,610 feet, this location boasts exceptional transparency.

“One of the prime advantages we have is the strategic proximity to the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, a mere hour's drive away. This proximity facilitates accessibility for individuals requiring system maintenance or updates,” says Keith Quattrocchi, president and founder of SRO.

The establishment is equipped with a highly secure and robust infrastructure, along with dedicated on-site technicians who are present daily. Its observatories are backed by fiber optic Internet and round-the-clock surveillance to ensure unwavering reliability. Adding an extra layer of assurance, the systems are redundantly supported by the Starlink satellite internet, dual secure VPNs and generator backup.

SRO currently has over 125 operational telescopes, a high percentage of which are operated by those involved in the space tech industry. For instance, it supports a number of organizations that track satellites or near-earth objects, and are involved in direct space communications. These clients depend on a very secure and robust infrastructure to run their operations without interruption and continuously year after year.

If any problems arise with the equipment, it can perform repairs onsite efficiently by disassembling and reassembling their systems.

SRO has also built a working relationship with local ISP providers, ensuring clients have the high-speed Internet they require, currently up to five Gbps with private fiber and higher speeds available.

A site that began as the dream of a few amateur astronomical imagers, SRO has become the largest privately held astronomical observatory in the United States. Current projects include additional observatories, a dedicated break room for clients, and a 120-panel solar array.

The founders of SRO wanted to build a site that was like no other in the U.S., with the best infrastructure and observing conditions possible. This has proven immensely valuable not only for amateur astronomers and astrophysicists who were among the initial visitors to the site but also for space industry professionals who followed them.