Fort Smith to get observatory
Roll-roof building would house telescopes to explore the cosmos
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, May 11, 2015
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Fort Smith will soon be getting something unique in the NWT - an observatory.
Mike Couvrette is chair of the Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society, which is planning to build an observatory in Fort Smith. - NNSL file photo |
The Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society is about to build one.
"It would be significant for the society, and I think it's a step towards a goal that we would like to see Fort Smith as a centre of astronomy for the Northwest Territories," said Mike Couvrette, the chair of the society.
The idea is to create what's called a roll-roof observatory. It has a roof mounted on something similar to a garage track system, and can be opened and closed.
"And your whole roof is open to the sky," said Couvrette.
"Then you have the four walls around you which add some protection from wind and the elements."
The roof would open to about a 12x12-foot observing area.
The building would also be large enough to set up more than one telescope at a time and accommodate about a half-dozen people.
Couvrette cannot think of anyone with a similar private observatory in the NWT.
"I will say with 100 per cent certainty it would be the first public one," he said.
Tim Gauthier - like Couvrette, one of the founding members of the astronomical society, is also looking forward to the observatory.
"We're really excited about the thought of having our own observatory," he said.
Gauthier noted that stargazing in a harsh winter climate can be a challenge and the observatory will make it more accessible for a wider range of people.
The project also involves buying some telescopes for the observatory.
That would include a couple of regular telescopes for star viewing, including most likely a large 11-inch telescope and a solar telescope.
"The entire observatory project - this includes all the equipment, landscaping, all the aspects of the project - we are estimating at about $60,000," said Couvrette, adding that includes the cost of the new telescopes.
There are still some details to be worked out, but he is hopeful the project can begin next month.
"It is definitely something that we're moving forward with," Couvrette said, adding he would like to see construction started sometime in early June.
Among the things still to be confirmed is the location of the observatory.
Couvrette said there are two possible locations, but he declined to provide more information until a site is confirmed.
The society has already received financial support for the project from the territorial government.
"We have received funding to assist us with the construction of it," said Couvrette.
"So we're going to be approaching some of our community partners to assist us. There is a bit of a shortfall, but I'm confident most of them will see the benefits of it."
Couvrette believes an observatory would be good for tourism in Fort Smith.
"We felt that for tourism businesses within the community having an observatory would be an added benefit for anybody looking at the aurora tour packages or tagging on to what Wood Buffalo (National Park) is doing with their dark sky preserve designation," he said, adding it would also serve the needs of the astronomical society at the same time.
