Facility Relocation

As we progress with the hardware refurbishments, we are very actively seeking a suitable site in the Mid-Columbia region at which to place the telescope.  In order to maintain its status as a research instrument, the telescope would need to be at a site that is relatively free of light trespass and sky brightening, at some elevation above the surrounding region, and free from physical obstruction.

Because of our public outreach objectives, and the investment of the community, we also feel it is very important to keep the telescope within reasonable access from the Tri-Cities.  The accompanying diagram shows the region's geographical features.  The concentric circles (which depict distance from an arbitrary location somewhat centrally located in the community) are included only to provide a sense of scale; they are not intended to reflect any sort of distance limit or to represent any areas of preference and/or exclusion.

We also require stable electrical service, telephone connectivity, and Internet access.  So all these various criteria need to be taken into account, and we will provide updates on our progress over the coming weeks and months.  Certainly, there will be various trade-offs involved.