Skys the Limit Observatory & Nature Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, YOUNGEST TO OLDEST, FROM THE SMALLEST ON EARTH TO THE LARGEST IN THE COSMOS. EDUCATION OF THE COSMOS VIA TELESCOPE OBSERVATION AND LECTURES. EDUCATION OF THE MOJAVE DESERT VIA THE NATURE TRAILS AND THE SURROUNDING GEOLOGY.
- Income
- $65,230
- Spending
- $34,822
- Reserves
- 75.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $7,783 spent. SKYS THE LIMIT HOSTS NIGHT SKY PROGRAMS ONCE A MONTH FEATURING AN ASTRONOMY LECTURE AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH THE 14 CELESTRON SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE INSIDE THE DOME. ADDITIONAL SCOPES OF VARIOUS SIZES AND TYPES ARE ARRAYED OUTSIDE THE DOME AS WELL. GUESTS TALK WITH THE ASTRONOMER-DOCENTS AS THEY OBSERVE THE NIGHTS CELESTIAL OBJECTS AND ONE ASTRONOMER GIVES A TOUR OF THE NIGHTS CONSTELLATIONS. SOME MONTHS INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TELESCOPE-ONLY EVENTS, WITH NO LECTURE BUT GUESTS INTERACTING INFORMALLY WITH ASTRONOMERS. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BRING THEIR OWN SCOPE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND ENTHUSIAM WITH GUESTS. THE CAMPUS IS ALWAYS OPEN EXCEPT DURING SCHEDULED EVENTS, BUT THE DOME AND RESTROOMS ARE ONLY OPEN WHEN DOCENTS ARE PRESENT.
- $7,405 spent. NIGHT SKY FESTIVAL IS AN ANNUAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT. THE EVENT IS ACCOMPLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND MANY VOLUNTEER ASTRONOMERS. 500 ATTENDEES BY ADVANCE RESERVATION. OVER 20 ASTRONOMERS WITH THEIR OWN SCOPES DESCRIBE CELESTRIAL OBJECTS. TWO ASTRONOMERS GIVE CONSTELLATION TOURS. MORNING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BOTANIST-LED NATURE TRAIL TOURS, SOLAR SCOPES, WALKABLE SOLAR SYSTEM LECTURES. AFTERNOON LECTURES BY NASA AND JPL ASTRONOMERS.
- $12,353 spent. STL CAMPUS - 15 ACRES, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 24 - 7 WITH SELF-GUIDED TOURS VIA POSTED QR CODES. DOME WITH 14" CELESTRON TELESCOPE; ACCESSIBLE STAR WALKWAY WITH TELESCOPE STATIONS WITH TABLES & POWER ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO AMATURE ASTRONOMERS; A SOLAR SCOPE; ORRERY: A MODEL OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM TRUE TO POSITION AT 1:20 BILLION SCALE, CONTAINING FOUR INNER PLANETS (OUTER PLANES ARE TRACKED); NATURE TRAIL WITH QR CODES PROVIDING PLANT INFO AND PHOTOS IN BLOOM; MEDITATION GARDEN BASED ON ZEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES; STEEL SCULPTURES ABSTRACTLY REPRESENTING ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS & OBJECTS; SOLAR CALENDAR/DUNDIAL MARKING HOURS, SOLSTICES, AND EQUINOXES; ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS; A WORKSHOP, WELCOME CENTER, AND STORAGE CONTAINERS THAT PROVIDE A BACKDROP TO A STAGE. STL HAS AGREED TO ALLOW THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE, TO USE THE CAMPUS. THE STL CAMPUS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A SATELLITE CAMPUS FOR WEEKLY CALSSES. STL HAS PURCHASED A CONTAINER TO STORE CMC TELESCOPES AND EQUIPMENT.
- $4,088 spent. TELESCOPE UPDATE AND MAINTENANCE, SINKING FUND NEW DOME FUND, DONATION TO NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS FOR ASSISTANCE IN REGULARLY SCHEDULE PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.