Sierra Remote Observatories
Since the founding of Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO) in 2007, we have been striving to make it a premiere destination for automated astronomical data collection and imaging, satellite tracking and space communication. After an exhaustive search, we chose our site for its unique combination of infrastructure accessibility, exceptional seeing, darkness, mild weather and location. We have 1 arcsecond summer seeing (1.2 arcsecond winter seeing), 290 clear days per year, dark skies, average wind speeds of only 1 mph, no summer monsoons, and only rare thunderstorms. Our location in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at 4610 feet keeps us above the central valley inversion zone without being so high as to incur brutal winter conditions. We are accessible all year round, being only one hour by car from the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. Currently we have more than 180 telescopes on-site.
We have a robust infrastructure at SRO. We have standard fiber optic internet at 1 Gbps upload and download speeds (full duplex). Dedicated fiber optic cable with higher gigabit speeds are available. This robust fiber optic internet service is backed up with Starlink, in the event of an unlikely service outage. On-site power is backed up by an all site industrial grade Generac generator. We have a secure VPN with systems redundancy. We have 24/7 surveillance. SRO has full time 24/7 technical support with local and on-site machine shop and computer services available. The owner lives on site with our technical support minutes away within the town of Auberry. Most repairs are performed on-site and we can ship more complicated issues within 24 hours, reassembling your telescope upon their return.
SRO began as our private observatory but quickly grew into a professional site for data collection and imaging, satellite tracking and space communications. We currently have 14 operational observatories and over 180 telescopes in operation at SRO. The first observatories constructed at SRO were the eight smaller 10' x 12' roll-off roof private observatories generally used for those who need or desire their own personal observatory. We have since added six large multi-telescope roll-off roof observatories. The most recent buildings being 30 x 40 foot in size with 10 foot ceilings, and two 20 x 24 foot multi-telescope buildings. These roll-off roof structures are ideal for out site in view of our average wind speed of only 1 mph. Our observatories have telescopes of various sizes, from 0.7 meters to smaller refractor telescopes. Meter class telescope can also be accommodated in dome or roll-off roof observatories.
As for our size, we currently have 180 telescopes operating at SRO. We always begin construction of new buildings before the site is full. Currently there are 2 new multi-telescope roll-off roof observatories under construction.
Our clients include astronomers from universities and astronomical institutes, space industry professionals, and amateur astrophotographers from around the world. To our existing clients, many of which have been with us since first light in 2007, we are grateful for your trust. For our new and future clients we extend to you a warm welcome to SRO.
All the best,
Keith Quattrocchi, MD, PhD, FACS
SRO Founders and CEO
Keith B. Quattrocchi
Keith Quattrocchi is the CEO of Sierra Remote Observatories and is one of its Founders. When not at the observatory, Dr. Quattrocchi is a Board Certified Neurological Surgeon and holds a Doctorate in Immunology. He has worked in both academic Neurosurgery and private practice, has published dozens of peer reviewed studies and directed laboratory and clinical research in tumor immunology. He has a lifelong interest in astronomy, astrophotography and photometry. Dr. Quattrocchi manages the observatory, attends to new site projects and continues to operate his telescope at SRO. His goal is to make SRO the premier site for astronomers, astrophotographers and space industry professionals.
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Mel Helm
Mel Helm was one of the founders of SRO. He was a Board Certified Neurologist who worked in private practice and attended to numerous clinical trials and lectures. He had a lifelong interest in astronomy and astrophotography. Dr. Helm was the Co-President of SRO, managed the observatory, on-site machine shop and other technical services at SRO. He tragically passed away in a scuba diving accident on December 24, 2021. He is survived by his three daughters, parents, sister and fiancée. Fresno State University has set up the Dr. Melvin R. Helm Jr. Memorial Educational Fund for Science and Medicine. For donation assistance scroll to the bottom of Dr. Mel Helm's Memorial Link: Memorial and FSU Educational Endowment for Dr. Helm.
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Management Team
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Operations and Management
Dan Fischer: Operations and Management. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Public Safety Administration from the University of Maryland. He has an extensive background in business management.
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Data Analyst & Operations
Gregory Quattrocchi: Systems Analyst. Gregory holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Business Administration. He has a background in systems analysis, networking, data analysis, computer science and information management systems.
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Marketing and Finance
Shahrzad Quattrocchi, PhD, PharmD.
SRO National and International Marketing and Strategic Planning. Shahrzad holds a doctorate in Pharmacology, a PharmD and is completing an MBA at UC Berkeley. |
On-site Technical Support
. Sam Miller
Sam Miller grew up near Auberry, just a few miles miles from Sierra Remote Observatories. He has worked at SRO for more than a decade and has special training in telescope repair, including PlaneWave and Software Bisque mounts. He has extensive experience and formal training in Welding and CNC Machining. He is skilled with telescope repair and networking.
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 Evan Cornelson
Evan Cornelsen studied at CSU, Fresno, with special training in networking and software engineering. He has experience in computer repair, web design, and networking. He grew up in Tollhouse, just a few miles from Sierra Remote Observatories. He is highly skilled at the repair and assembly of astronomical mounts and telescopes.
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SRO Newsletters
You can learn more about us and SRO by looking through our newsletters, which are published on a biannual basis. These newsletters discuss a number of topics of relevance to the site including new projects and infrastructure updates. You can review these newsletters at: www.sronewsletters.com