Grassland Mountain Observatory
A private observatory, located in Madison County, NC, owned and operated by the Astronomy Club of Asheville
The views from Grassland Mountain Observatory are quite panoramic, with the mountains of Tennessee to the north, the Black Mountains and Mt. Mitchell to the east, Mt. Pisgah and Cold Mountain to the south, and the Great Smoky Mountains to the west. (Drone image, looking SW, by Bill Downey)
Observatory Elevation: 4,130 feet
Latitude: 35 deg., 45.26 minutes North
Longitude: 82 deg., 48.24 minutes West
Equipment: The primary instrument is a Meade LX200R 16-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, utilizing a computer-controlled Paramount ME mount on a permanent pier. Riding “piggyback” on the primary telescope is a Stellarvue SVX152T (6-inch) f/8 Premier APO Triplet Refractor.
Facility: (constructed in 2009) The observing space measures approx. 20′ x 16′, with a motorized, roll-off-roof and an attached warm room. Restrooms are available at this site.
Location: 2892 Grassland Parkway, Marshall, NC 28753
Don’t use Google Maps for directions; you will most certainly get lost!
Image: Above the Black Mountains is the Earth’s shadow (the narrow gray band), and above the Earth’s shadow is the striking rosy-pink colored “Belt of Venus.” The Belt of Venus is the light of the sunset in the west, reflected off the Earth’s atmosphere onto the eastern horizon. It’s a brief phenomenon, lasting about 15 minutes in the early evening twilight, and it’s quite common up at Grassland Mountain Observatory, with its great views to all horizons. You can also observe this same wonder on the western horizon just before sunrise!
Current Weather Conditions at Grassland Mountain Observatory
The Grassland Mountain Observatory weather station was implemented in memory of William Roskind, whose vision, dedication and wise guidance propelled the Astronomy Club of Asheville to greater heights.
Click/tap on the Clear Sky Chart below to see details of the current conditions at
Grassland Mountain Observatory
For the latest version of the “clear sky chart” shown below, refresh/clear your web browser.
From Grassland Mountain there is an unobstructed 360° view around & to the horizons, and Grassland Mountain is a dark-sky location.
Above: Weather webcam image,
showing the view to the northwest
from Grassland Mtn. Observatory
– Click/tap on the image for a larger view; refresh your browser for the latest image.