The Bateson Observatory just south of Susanville has joined a network of astronomical observers who collect video and information to measure the size and orbits of asteroids, Kuiper belt objects and trans-Neptunian objects. On January 19th Bateson joined with other observers to record the POSITIVE...

Dr. Bateson files this cool photo of comet Lovejoy's closest approach to Earth taken from his observatory south of Susanville last Wednesday evening. Bateson shot the 30-second exposure with his Nikon D-7000 through a 12-inch Ritchey Chretien telescope astrograph as the comet made its closest approach...

Dr. Bateson checks in with a look at storm totals for the twenty-four hour period from Wednesday to Thursday evening - and boy are they impressive! Bateson recorded 1 inch of precipitation this morning, another .60 inches by noon and another 1.05 inches Thursday at 8:00p.m.. "That’s 2.65 inches...

Rain continues to fall in the valleys of Lassen and Plumas counties with higher elevations and mountain passes still seeing accumulations of snow. As of 8:00 Thursday Dr. Bateson has recorded another .3 inches at his observatory south of Susanville, bringing our December total up to 2.75...

Dr. Bateson, Susanville's resident meteorological expert, has dismal news to report from the shores of Eagle Lake. Measurements taken this weekend show the lake's level has dropped more than four inches since September 13th. Bateson measured the lake level at 5091.681 feet. As for the upcoming winter season...

After a long dry summer Lassen County residents started seeing relief in the form of a series of storms that brought some measurable rainfall over the last several days. According to measurements taken by Dr. Bateson, our local meteorological expert, just over a third of an...

Dr. Bateson sends us two more neat astrophotos today, taken from his observatory south of Susanville. Both photos were taken with an Infra-red modded Nikon D-90 camera and an Astrotech Ritchey Chretien 12 inch astrograph telescope. "M16, the Eagle Nebula, is an open cluster of stars...

  The lack of water in northeastern California continues to take its toll on Eagle Lake, with waters receding at a frightening speed. Dr. Owen Bateson, Susanville's meteorological expert, says that by summer's end Eagle Lake could see its lowest water level since the 1930's. "We only had...

Dr. Bateson sends us two neat astrophotos today, taken from his observatory south of Susanville, of the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae. The Trifid Nebula was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764 and its name means 'divided into three lobes'. It is around 5000 light years...

The drought in northeastern California continues and Dr. Owen Bateson, Susanville's meteorological expert, says that by summer's end Eagle Lake could see its lowest water level since the 1930's. Bateson measured the lake level at 5093.3 on Saturday, just 2.1 feet higher than the record recorded...

Have you ever wanted to learn more about astronomy and astrophotography? This Monday, May 19th, there will be another free workshop where you can learn how to use a telescope and camera to capture some spectacular light from distant stars. Dr. Owen Bateson and Randall...