Pulpit Rock Astronomical Park
Latitude: 40.5965° North
Longitude: 75.9325° West
Altitude: 1,584 feet
Magnetic Deviation: 11.7° W
They like to warm themselves on top of and under the rocks in the area. Be careful where you sit, and wear boots that will protect your legs from bites.
The Pulpit Rock area experienced multiple bear sightings during the summer of 2012. Visitors are strongly encouraged to use bear-safe practices. Click for BEAR SAFETY tips.
Note: There were no sightings or reports of bears for all of 2013, 2014, or 2015. However, in June of 2016 there was a bear sighting in early June and then daily sightings through Sunday June 26 in the immediate area of Pulpit Rock Astronomical Park and the Hamburg Reservoir.
— RIK, PR Maintenance
Welcome to the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society’s dark-sky observing site. Pulpit Rock is located 25 miles west of Allentown between Lenhartsville and Hamburg, PA.
Officially known as Pulpit Rock Astronomical Park, or as it is commonly called, “The Rock,” this 4.3-acre mountaintop site sits 1,600 feet above sea level on the Appalachian Trail. The installations and equipment at Pulpit Rock offer the serious amateur or the novice an opportunity to contribute meaningful scientific information to the astronomical community or simply view the splendors of the heavens from several acres of landscaped grounds.
The site was founded in the 1960’s by Henry Kawecki, an industrialist from Berks County, who built the first dome (right-most dome in aerial view below) in a small clearing in the woods. There was a crude access road called the “jeep road” at the time, but he also traveled in by helicopter.
As the LVAAS became involved in Kawecki’s efforts, a more usable road was built and the site soon blossomed into a small campus of observatories. The dark skies on Blue Mountain were a welcome getaway from the light-polluted cities.
In the mid-1990’s, a renaissance was under way at The Rock. A new three-story building was under construction for a 40" Cassegrain, the other observatories were cleaned up and repainted, and the grounds received a major overhaul. Through these incredible efforts of the members, LVAAS’s Pulpit Rock Astronomical Park became one of the highest and finest amateur observing sites east of the Mississippi.
Click on any of the pictures below and take the Virtual Tour of Pulpit Rock. There are plenty of images to enjoy!
If you are not a member of LVAAS, you are invited to join so you too can use this facility. Click here for membership information.
If you are already a member and interested in observing sessions or volunteering for work parties at Pulpit Rock, please subscribe to the The Buzz mailing list.
