Local residents will be able to gaze at the sky and look 200 million years back in time, with a new observatory slated to open in August at Simon Fraser University's Burnaby campus.
"It's an amazing facility," SFU physics professor Howard Trottier told the NOW.
Trottier's vision of a new observatory and outreach centre at SFU is becoming reality now that his brother and sister-in-law have stepped in with a major chunk of funding. Trottier's brother runs an electronics company and donates profits to projects that promote public science education.
"We're all kind of science nuts," Trottier said, referring to his family.
On Thursday, SFU opened the new Trottier Studio for Innovative Science Education, an outreach centre on campus for children's science workshops. The outreach centre features cameras, a 3D projector and two large videoconferencing screens so instructors can broadcast workshops to classrooms across the country.
At the opening, SFU also announced the $4.4 million observatory will open in August. Children from Highlands Elementary were on site in the outreach studio, working with hands-on science activities during the announcement.
The observatory will be on the grassy area next to the university's Strand Hall and will be open to the general public. It will feature a six-meter-diameter dome with a 0.7-metre diameter reflector telescope that is four times more powerful than typical university telescopes. Members of the public will be able to see planets, the moon, star clusters and distant galaxies, some even 200 million years back in time. There will also be a camera attached to the observatory, so people can look at still photos and scientists like Trottier can explain what people are observing. There will also be a digital feed broadcasting from the observatory, and an outdoor courtyard with sundials and room for people to set up telescopes.
Trottier, who is also known as Mr. Starry Nights, hosts regular astronomy events for families and the general public. The Starry Nights events draw thousands of kids to SFU each year to gaze through telescopes and look at the night skies.
For Trottier, bolstering public interest in science is crucial, and that's what he's hoping the observatory and outreach centre will do.
"The future of society depends on science. Without science we're toast. We can't solve the world's problems without science," he said.
