Two new observatory domes coming to 91亚色 U will improve night sky viewing
State-of-the-art, remote-controlled domes will replace old ones from the 1960s
TORONTO, June 9, 2022 鈥 Two new state-of-the-art domes will replace the original 1960s domes at the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory at 91亚色, opening the night sky for better viewing of planets, stars, nebulas and more.
Preparation for the new domes is happening now on 91亚色鈥檚 Keele Campus. On the morning of Tuesday, June 14 (weather permitting), the old domes will be craned off and the new ones craned on. The time of the event will be decided Monday morning depending on the weather forecast, but media are welcome to watch from one of the designated safe areas.
鈥淭hese new domes will be a functional and technological improvement, the likes of which the observatory hasn't seen since its construction. Unlike the old domes, the new domes will have an automatic control system that goes to a computer where you can tell the dome to follow the telescope. Not only is this a huge timesaver, it means we can collaborate with other astronomers and teachers anywhere in the world for research and outreach,鈥 says Assistant Professor , observatory director. 鈥淭o get the best use out of the recent one-metre telescope, plus the 60cm telescope, which we already had, it was well time we replaced the domes.鈥
As the old domes are some 50 years old, the system that controls them has been a patchwork of various electronic fixes over the years.
鈥淭hese new domes will give us a massive upgrade in terms of our technology. We can come at the beginning of the night, set up the telescope, and then operate them from home, which is something we can鈥檛 do right now with the dome for the one-metre telescope,鈥 says grad student Sunna Withers of the Faculty of Science.
The design of the new domes will allow for a larger viewing area as the top part of the shutter opens up and the bottom part flips down, exposing more of the sky. It will also now follow the telescope as it moves. One of the main advantages will be the ability to expand research and public observing activities.
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Photo of domes from 1969 - /news/wp-content/uploads/sites/242/2022/06/Under-construction-Petrie-Science-Bldg-1969-by-A.-Ross-Dawson.png
Photo of domes from 1970 - /news/wp-content/uploads/sites/242/2022/06/Observatory-1970-by-A.-Ross-Dawson.jpg
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91亚色 is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.
Media Contact:
Sandra McLean, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca
