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.   At SRO we offer fiber optic internet with 200 mbps upload and download speeds (full duplex), with dedicated fiber optic cable with gigabit speeds available.  We have 1 arcsecond summer seeing (1.2 arcsecond winter seeing), 290 clear days per year, wind speeds of only 1 mph, no summer monsoons, and only rare thrunderstorms.  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.    We have full time 24/7 technical support with local and on-site machine shop and computer services available.  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 12 operational observatories and over 50 telescopes in operation at SRO.  The first observatories constructed at SRO were the eight smaller 10' x 12' roll-off roof observatories generally used for those who need or desire their own personal observatory.  We have since added four multi-telescope roll-off roof observatories.  The most recent buildings being 30 x 40 foot in size with 10 foot ceilings.  These 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 refractors.  Meter class telescope can also be accommodated in dome or roll-off roof observatories.  Our clients include astronomers from universities and astronomical institutes, space industry professionals, and amateur imagers 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 and Mel Helm

​The owners and founders of SRO, Mel Helm (left) and Keith Quattrocchi (right) at Sierra Remote Observatories

​Mel Helm and Keith Quattrocchi at a conference, 2019.

SRO Founders and Management

Keith B. Quattrocchi

Keith Quattrocchi is an SRO founder and co-manager.  Dr. Quattrocchi is a Board Certified Neurological Surgeon and holds a doctorate in Immunology.  He has worked in both academic Neurosurgery and private practice.  He has a lifelong interest in astronomy and astrophotography. Dr. Quattrocchi manages the site and attends to new site projects.

Mel Helm

Mel Helm is an SRO founder and co-manager.  Dr. Helm is a Board Certified Neurologist in the near-by city of Fresno where he works in private practice and attends to numerous clinical trials and lectures. He has a lifelong interest in astronomy and astrophotography.  Dr. Helm manages the site and manages the on-site machine shop and other technical services at SRO.

Consultant Services

Many of our clients have preferred or required expert help with choosing their equipment, installing their equipment or learning advanced  (or basic) imaging techniques.  We are pleased to recommend Bray Falls for those who might require some assistance.  Bray grew up in Arizona and studied aerospace engineering at ASU. He is working as a controls engineer, and astrophotographer. He has extensive experience in image acquisition and image processing, as well as teaching astrophotography. He has numerous publications and awards for his work, including two recent images from SRO, an APOD for M104 and Astrobin Image of the Day for NGC 2276. He is also our Assistant Director of SRO's VIrtual Astrophotographer Program.  The SRO Virtual Astrophotographer program was designed for those without a telescope at SRO, who wish to have imaging data from our site to work with.  As the Assistant Director he chooses objects for imaging at SRO and helps make sure the imaging is properly performed.  For those in the program this data is made available, generally twice a month, from one of our 16" RC Telescopes at SRO.  

Bray Falls is accepting new clients and can be contacted for more information and pricing at [email protected]​.

On-site Technical Support

Evan Cornelson

Evan Cornelson 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.

Sam Miller

Sam Miller grew up near Auberry, just miles from Sierra Remote Observatories.  He has worked at SRO for several years 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.  

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