End of an Era

The David Dunlap Observatory was one of the world's leading facilities in Astronomical Research.  Situated in Richmond Hill, it provided Canadian researchers the ability to explore the universe since the 1930's.  A lot of real scientific discovery went on at the 74 inch reflector telescope, once considered a Goliath.  Now, it is a victim of progress.  Light pollution from urban growth coupled with more advanced and more capable designs made the DDO less and less important.  It's hard to justify spending $800,000 per year to operate something that now offers minimal returns.  The shame here is that we could have had gone further with the present facility if the political will existed on all levels of government to use better municipal lighting.  Still, it had to happen eventually.

The facility was a gift to the University of Toronto from Jessie Dunlap in memory of her husband.  The university recently announced that it has reached an agreement with the grandchildren of Jessie and David which allows the closure of the facility and sale of the lands and equipment.  A new facility built with the proceeds will be called the Dunlap Institute.  It will support future astronomical research from the U of T's St. George Campus.  Final vote is expected in early October.

It is sad that this jewel will go missing from Richmond Hill.  A piece of history will be lost.  Progress is like that though; some good with the bad.

Comments

[Rod]

Hi Steve -- As far as I know, UofT has no plans to build a new facility. Some of the money from the sale of the DDO (if that happens) will fund something called the "Dunlap Institute". From the UofT press release, that group will be designing new instruments for larger telescopes in Hawaii, etc. At the Jan 16th rally, Catherine Riggall, UofT Business Affairs VP, said the proceeds will go into the "general endowment fund", so I think they could be used for anything UofT wants.

Apart form that, the astronomers will working at the DDO say they are still doing productive (though admittedly not bleeding edge) research.

Rod