[ATMoB-discuss] Public observatory to be built at Bryce canyon

[mmotta at massmed.org]

You may like this one,
Mario 

      Public observatory may shine at
Bryce
>
>     
http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660218245,0.html
>
>       By Joe Bauman, Deseret Morning
News
>
>� � � Taking advantage of southern
Utah's clear, dark skies, Bryce
>Canyon National Park wants to build a
$2 million public astronomical
>observatory.  Ron Warner, Bryce Canyon
National ParkThe
>yearly Astrofest draws hundreds of
visitors to Bryce Canyon National
>Park to enjoy the clear skies and learn
about astronomy.
>� � � It would be only the second
observatory for the National Park
>Service � and a much grander type than
the small facility at Chaco
>Canyon National Historical Park.
>� � � The idea, according to Chad
Moore, program manager for the Park
>Service's Night Sky Team, is that the
stunning views of the Milky Way
>and other wonders are part of Bryce's
scenery.
>� � � "Parks protect scenery, and
that's one of the things that's in
>our mandate," he said. Parks have set
up overlooks to display
>terrestrial scenery like the haunting
spires of hoodoo formations at
>Bryce; in the same spirit, he believes,
the stunning night scenery at
>Bryce also should get attention.
>� � � Bryce personnel recently
submitted a proposal to the Denver
>regional office to build the
observatory. The regional office "then
>sent it on to Washington," said Angie
Richman, astronomy volunteer
>coordinator at the park.
>� � � Under the plan, federal money
would cover half the approximately
>$2 million cost, with private donations
footing the rest of the bill.
>The park has not yet decided on a site
and needs to study potential
>environmental issues.
>� � � The observatory would have a
roll-off roof housing two or three
>telescopes, an imaging room that would
be combined with a classroom, a
>deck for observing the sun with a
telescope equipped with special
>filters, an "architectural sundial" and
an amphitheater where as many
>as 500 people could experience lectures.
>� � � In addition, a separate facility
with a dome would mount a small
>robotic imaging telescope. From 20 to
30 telescope pads would be
>established, with power supplies, where
amateurs or school groups could
>set up their own 'scopes.
>� � � According to Moore, supporters
hope the observatory would win
>preliminary approval from the Park
Service by the end of this 
>year.document.
>
>� � � Bryce is a good place for
astronomy because its high altitude and
>its distance from the light pollution
of large cities mean the sky is
>darker than most sites.
>� � � Since the late 1960s, the park
near Rubys Inn, Garfield County,
>has hosted star parties and lectures
for visitors; from late April to
>mid-October, two or three star parties
are held every week, weather
>allowing. Its distance from large
cities greatly reduces light
>pollution, though the park has
generated some of its own.
>� � � The annual Astrofest gathering
draws hundreds of visitors to use
>telescopes belonging to the park itself
and to volunteers who help with
>the multiday festival. The event
usually is held during June's new moon
>when no moon-glare interferes with
subtler astronomical beauties.
>� � � "We had 8,000 visitor contacts
last year" during Astrofest, said
>Moore. Many of the contacts were from
people using a specially equipped
>telescope to view the sun, and others
were contacts at workshops and
>the three simultaneous programs about
astronomy. "So I'm sure we're
>counting some people more than once."
>� � � The Salt Lake Astronomical
Society is the amateur club most
>closely allied with Bryce's program, he
said. But other groups and
>individuals across the country send
volunteers too.
>� � � Until now, star parties have been
held in two stages, with ranger
>talks held indoors at the park's
auditorium, then the viewing session
>in the visitor center parking lot. That
requires a drive between the
>venues. And without a permanent
observatory, the laborious effort of
>setting up, aligning and taking down
telescopes must be carried out
>each time.
>� � � "Right now the park owns five
telescopes," said Richman. The
>largest has an 11-inch diameter, an
impressive amateur instrument. But
>the observatory could sport not only
these but a bigger telescope, at
>least 25 inches in diameter.
>� � � "Park management here at Bryce is
very supportive of it," she
>said. It has established an observatory
committee to search for a
>location, and all of the feedback from
higher levels of the service has
>been positive.
>� � � Astronomy at Bryce is has become
"very, very popular," said Kevin
>Poe, acting chief of interpretation at
the park. He cited the
>activities of Patrick Wiggins, NASA
solar system ambassador to Utah, as
>inspiring a renewed viewing program.
>� � � "Incredible idea!" Wiggins
exclaimed. "I really like it. Bryce
>Canyon, of course, has been adjudged to
be one of the last remaining
>holdouts of truly dark nighttime skies
of the lower 48. Just with the
>eyeball it's glorious.
>� � � "But through telescopes,
especially a big telescope like they're
>talking about down there right now, I
can't imagine the wonders of the
>universe that people using the
instrument will be treated to."
>� � � When would the observatory open?
>� � � "We'd love to get it for 2009;
that's the International Astronomy
>Year," Poe said. "And it's also the
400th anniversary of the telescope"
>as used by Galileo.

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