The Burlington County Free Observatory

Proposal Outline and Overview

The Mission:

The Burlington County Free Observatory’s mission is to promote science to the general public by affording all citizens of Burlington County, NJ the opportunity to be involved with, and get excited about, real science. The B.C.F.O. is a research class astronomical observatory open to the public free of charge.

By providing a web based, remote controlled interface for the observatory’s main instrument, Educators (free of charge), and B.C.F.O. members (for a small monthly, or per session fee) may access the main instrument; a 20” F8 Advanced Coma-Free Optics Reflecting Telescope via the internet, remotely, by appointment. Anyone using the telescope in this fashion may image any available celestial object, or choose from a menu of preprogrammed observing sessions with varying themes, as well as random selection sessions (cosmic pot luck). Regardless of what is being imaged, there will be a live feed to the observatory’s website available for the general public. Educators throughout Burlington County are encouraged to schedule field trips to the Observatory.

While the Observatory’s main goal is promoting the study of Astronomy, Physics, and Cosmology, there can be little doubt that the experience of visiting, and using a facility of this caliber will help students to get excited about real science in general. Another of the project’s main goals is to help students develop the critical thinking skills necessary for scientific endeavor. By doing real science, and applying the scientific method to real world astronomy projects, students will develop critical thinking skills that will serve them in everyday life, for the rest of their lives.

The Observatory will be open 3-4 days and 4-5 nights a week and is free of charge to the public.

The Site:

The Burlington County Free Observatory will be located on 100+ wooded acres known as Olympia Lakes, located in Willingboro, NJ on US Route 130 North. The site is a wide clearing located near the lakes and well behind the Willingboro F.O.P. facility. Utility connections are readily available. The Observatory occupies a footprint of no more than .75 acres. There is ample parking attached to the lake. The entire area is open for other recreational pursuits like fishing, hiking, mountain biking and others. The site is well suited for astronomy, an observatory would add recreational science to the already diverse mixture of activities available at Olympia Lakes.

The Equipment:

The Facility will initially consist of, but not be limited to the following structures and features necessary for optical astronomy and image capture on site or via the internet:

Observatory Structure Proper:

Roll-top open structure to house all of the optical instruments. Adjacent structures to house the telescope control room, a library and learning annex, as well as the necessary equipment for multimedia presentations, servers, and the like.

One (1) 20” F-8 Advanced Coma-Free Optics Reflecting Telescope:

This is the Observatory’s main instrument. This instrument represents the best value in terms of price, performance, and ease of integration into the proposed network. The Telescope is mounted on a permanent concrete pier for maximum stability while imaging celestial objects.

Two (2) 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain Reflecting Telescopes:

Small, yet powerful telescopes. Reasonably priced.

Two (2) 4”- 6” Telescopes:

These may either be reflecting, or refracting telescopes. Together with the two 8” instruments, and the main instrument they make a “Star Party” truly a Star Party. There’s nothing worse than a long line of people at the main instrument and everyone bored. Instruments below a certain aperture are comparatively inexpensive. Small instruments are a great way to get acquainted with the basics of observational astronomy.

Digital Imaging System by SBIG, Model STL-6003E with Adaptive Optics:

For astrophotography, astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy, and other experimental and imaging applications.

Computing and Networking Hardware:

To tie the whole thing together and make it web accessible and web interactive. The telescope while in operation will provide a continuous stream of imagery and other data to the internet. Imagine being able to capture the spectra of a star, live, while sipping a beverage in your den.

Computer Based, Multimedia Presentation System:

For lectures, presentations, and movies. This system will feature two 100" wide-screens, and a theatre class sound system.It will be tied to the network for web, pod casting,and other network based activities. Having this system makes the average observing session an exciting, multi / mass-media event.

On Site, Network Integrated, Weather Station:

The weather station is the observatory’s way to observe the local weather and seeing conditions. This is necessary so that the observatory and its instruments not exposed to inclement weather during remotely directed observing sessions.

Solar Power Generation Array, Inverter, and Deep Charge / Frequent Recharge Battery System:

The “grid tied” nature of the system will probably preclude the battery requirement. I expect the system (in good weather) to generate a significant portion of the facility’s power. There is no need to heat or cool the observatory proper as this interferes with telescope operation. This fact represents a further savings.

About Solar Power:

The Facility which includes the observatory and its adjacent support structures (telescope control room, and learning annex, bathroom, media operations room, storage, closets, etc...) is solar powered and tied to the electrical grid allowing excess solar power to be sold back to the local utility. Proceeds from the sale of excess power will help defray the day to day operational costs of the observatory (see power utilization study).

Solar Power is vigorously promoted by the State, as well as local Governments and earns healthy rebates. This will further offset the ongoing operational costs of the Observatory. Solar power is 100% clean, and after the initial R.O.I., free energy. Solar Power will provide real and ongoing benefits to the Observatory.

The Program

The actual observing program may be divided into four main categories:

1. Onsite Diurnal

2. Onsite Nocturnal

3. Remote Diurnal

4. Remote Nocturnal

While all four programs share some common elements (e.g. radio astronomy may be done day or night) there are events and observing opportunities unique to each. I have therefore decided to describe one category and a bit about its features. A more detailed description of each program may be found in the full proposal should your organization decide to look at this unique opportunity.

On site Diurnal:

The Daytime. On site solar observations, daytime planetary observing opportunities, observatory tours, class field trips, etc.. Also, the day to day operations schedule including maintenance, business, local compliance issues, house keeping, and the like. This is also the time when things like the website and network get worked on.

A fully functional radio telescope will be built by student volunteers as part of an ongoing radio astronomy project. Students will learn the fundamentals of radio telescope construction along with an introduction to radio astronomy. For those not familiar with it, radio astronomy opens whole new observing vistas and lecture opportunities. Exposure to Real Science in this way can fire a student’s imagination, and intellect for life.

A Few Lecture Ideas I’ve Thought About:

The Sun. Our own variable star.

The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, (Penzias, Wilson, and the Pigeons).

The Violent Universe – millisecond pulsars and other objects.

Ancient Astronomers – What they saw then, what we see now.

V.L.B.I. - or, how to make an antenna the size of a continent.

The Anatomy of a Radio Telescope.

There is a virtually unlimited supply of subjects for lecture, certainly too many to list in this short space.

Guest Lecturers are encouraged.

Note: I chose to describe a bit about the daytime program to demonstrate the wealth of observing and learning opportunities that even the daylight hours afford. I believe that most people think of astronomy as a primarily nocturnal pursuit. The variety of activities available during the daytime program soundly refutes this notion.

Observing Access Policy:

On site observing sessions have priority over remote sessions. Remote sessions are generally scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Further, remote observing sessions are geographically restricted to zip codes within Burlington County, NJ. This limitation is necessary to preserve the local nature of the project, and to prevent the main instrument from being overwhelmed with observing requests. The balance of the website with all of its features will be available to the general public. In the future there may be other free observatories set up in other communities depending on how things go with this first effort.

Fees:

Membership in the B.C.F.O. is free to all residents of Burlington County, NJ. Remote telescope access will be charged either monthly, or per observing session. A very aggressive fundraising effort will be mounted covering web, print, events, and actual door to door efforts. It is my hope that BCFO members young and old alike will get involved with fundraising.

Staffing:

Currently there is no need for staff other than myself. However as the program develops, this may change.

Some Marketing Tie-ins:

The observatory from time to time will host “Adults Only” events in a garden party atmosphere. In addition to some first class observing opportunities, there will be music, refreshments, and short pre-observation lectures. These “Star Parties” represent excellent fundraising opportunities.

Explore the possibility of partnerships with local astronomical societies for things like lectures, or other events.

NASA TV: Remote broadcasts. Have the observatory profiled on NASA TV.

WHYY: Derrick Pitts, and Sky Tour.

Weekly observing pod and web-casts, forums, and other web based media.

The Website: I have purposely omitted any real detail regarding the observatory’s website as it is its own design and construction effort. Suffice it to say that the site will offer awesome educational opportunities for the student, educator, and BCFO members alike. The site will be very interactive.

Naturally there are lots of other ideas. I'm always thinking in terms of new ideas, and I welcome input.

Light Pollution:

Question: Why put an instrument of this caliber within a mile of a major population center and all of its attendant light pollution?

Answer: There are many good sized observatories operating very successfully near or within many cities.

Answer: Selective wavelength filtration technology filters also know as “Dark Sky” filters have been on the market for many years. While no filter removes all of the apparent loss of contrast in the telescopes viewing field, these filters have come a long way in terms of their development and do a very good job.

Answer: The superior image capture and processing capabilities of the proposed system further mitigate the problem.

Answer: The local government has done a fair to good job at minimizing light pollution in this area.

Answer: Light pollution does not affect the daytime or radio astronomy portions of the program.

B.C.F.O. Initial Budget Proposal

1. 501 (c) 3 Non-profit setup fee: $500.00

2. Land: $100,000 – There is the possibility that the land may be donated though this remains to be seen.

3. Observatory structure, and associated support structures: $150,000

3. Meade 20” ACF reflector and mount: $65,000

4. Two (2) 8” Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes: $4,600

5. Two (2) 4”-6” Telescopes: $1,600

6. SBIG STL-6303E with Adaptive Optics: $12,995

7. Various Filters: $1,000

8. Projector's for multimedia applications: $2,000

9. Dedicated multimedia PC and sound gear: $3,500

Other Hardware:

10. Dedicated PC for business applications. While some of the other pc’s may overlap in terms of their functionality, this machine is secured from the general network: $1,800

11. PC for imaging, image manipulation, and other astronomical applications. This machine is also used for some of the complex computations and programs associated with astronomy: $1,800

12. Two (2) Laptops for image capture, and control of the various other instruments including the proposed radio telescope: $2,000

13. Networking gear: $1,000

Solar Power:

14. PV Array: $10,000

15. Inverter / Stabilizer: The local utility will provide the downstream connection in order to tie us to the power grid: $1,000

16. Deep Charge / Frequent Recharge battery System: $4,000

Emergency Power:

17. Battery Backup for PC’s: $500

18. Backup Emergency Generator: $1,000. I should hope we’ll never have to use this item.

19. Discretionary Spending: It would be prudent to build $10,000 into the initial budget for discretionary purposes.

Total: $374,295.00. If I’m able to secure a land donation the adjusted total is approximately: $275,000

Annual Budget:

Curator Salary with benefits: $60,000

Utilities: $2,000

Discretionary Spending: $10,000

Total: $72,000 per annum.

All figures are subject to revision based on future economic reality.

Conclusion:

The need for programs like the one outlined here is to great to overstate. Without the benefit of solid, available, affordable, community based science programs, the persuit of science education by young people, and as a result, science itself will suffer for the lack of excited young minds. The B.C.F.O. represents a low cost, easily accessible, (remember it’s free to the public) way for people of all ages to explore, and thus learn about the universe we live in.

This concludes this proposal overview. The full proposal is available upon request. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely

Chris Wolf

514 Rutgers Ave. ,

Burlington City, NJ 08016

856-375-7427

Chris@CosmosImageFactory.com