The university received new telescope mount pieces in August from Cast-Fab Technologies in Cincinnati.
Nearly two years ago, a fire on the roof of Ohio University’s Research and Technology Center led to a mistake by OU Facilities and the accidental scrapping of an intricate telescope mount — a component crucial to the historic astronomical device’s operation.
The university received new telescope mount pieces in August from Cast-Fab Technologies in Cincinnati, but a new observatory is a long way off.
The provided castings for the new mount cost approximately $36,000, said David Ingram, a chair of OU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, in an email.
Funds for the castings were acquired via a form of self-insurance that OU has for small claims.
“What we’re hoping to do is to get a site somewhere else in the university to put the telescope,” Ingram said.
After what Ingram called an “unfortunate” loss of the old mount, a proposal for $300,000 was made by Joseph Shields, vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the Graduate College.
“The proposal was to build a mount and facility for the telescope,” said Laura Myers, chief of staff to the Provost, in an email. “Ohio leadership, including Dr. Shields, is still in the planning phase to determine what kind of facility will be best for students and faculty.”
According to a previous Post article, the proposal was submitted Aug. 26, 2013 and requested “two telescope shelters (domes) and a small storage building.”
The two proposed shelters would be used for both the university’s 10-inch J.W. Fecker refractor telescope, for which the mount was accidentally destroyed, and a new telescope that OU plans to purchase.
“I am told we have not chosen another telescope yet, so I have no more information on that,” Ingram said.
The new telescope would be much stronger than the current one, with the ability to see stars, sunspots and other phenomena, he said.
As for the location of the proposed observatory, officials are looking to the former site of Building 26, formerly the T.B. ward and Beacon School, in The Ridges, according to a previous Post article.
“The Ridges Master Plan process is considering the merits of an observatory at The Ridges,” Shields said. “Recommendations from that process will emerge later this year.”
Prior to its damage and dismantlement, the telescope was used by astronomy classes at OU and by the Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society, an Athens-based group that “brings astronomy to the people,” according to its website.
Smaller reflective telescopes owned by OU are used for the aforementioned activities as well as for use at farmers’ markets and for university-sponsored stargazing events.
Currently, the Fecker telescope and its mountings are sitting in the basement of Clippinger Laboratories.
“These telescopes are used for public outreach and also for introducing students to astronomy,” Ingram said. “I don’t think we’ve got enough clearance in (Clippinger) to (assemble it).”
In about two weeks, all mechanical portions of the new mounts — including bolts and other miscellaneous parts — will be finished, said Doug Shafer, a mechanical systems technician for the university.
If The Ridges observatory is not approved, plans to expand Clippinger have already been included in the university’s plans for future construction, but would not take effect for another five to six years, Ingram said.
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