Crunch Time for Canada's Biggest Telescope

Photo Credit: Dan Falk

When it was completed in 1935, it was the second largest astronomical telescope in the world.  The 74 inch reflector was used by astronomer Dr. Tom Bolton to confirm the existence of Cygnus X-1 as a Black Hole, a first in astronomy.  Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg contributed to our understanding of the universe by the decades of research at the David Dunlap Observatory's mighty telescope.  The 190 acres of surrounding undeveloped land are home to deer and over dozens of species of birds.  It's an oasis of astronomy and biology surrounded by the suburbs of Toronto.

The University of Toronto intends to sell the DDO and the surrounding wild space and fetch as much as $100 million dollars in the process.  Will we see it snapped up by developers keen on turning the land into houses, offices and strip plazas?  I hope not.  There's a strong community voice in Richmond Hill, including Mayor Dave Barrow who wants to see the site preserved.  Local government along with community groups such as the Richmond Hill Naturalists have mounted a campaign to offer the U of T a serious alternative to the dismantling and destruction of the DDO.  We know that this is the right thing to do. The David Dunlap Observatory represents a major piece of the history of astronomy,  as well as the history of Canada. 

We can do our part to help but we must act quickly.  The University of Toronto has placed a deadline of February 15th, 2008 to decide on submissions for the sale of the facility.  Let them know that you want the DDO to remain as a testament to the advancement of the science of astronomy, a part of our heritage and that it should be preserved.  Take a moment and fill out this online petition. 

Thank you and clear skies!

Photo by Dan Falk -author: Universe on a T-shirt: The Quest for the Theory of Everything  (thanks Dan!)