Star gazing isn't just for astronomers

JOEL DAVIDSON-Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA -- For two dollars, a couple can literally get starry-eyed, gazing through the Burchell High School's Stargate Observatory telescope on Saturday night in Wasilla.

Burchell High School began providing community star shows in January 2002 through the use of its giant, 26-inch Newtonian telescope. Students use the telescope for astronomy classes during the week but the weekend is set aside for the public. The shows start in September and run through the first Saturday in April.

Several recent upgrades, including a light-filtering cover, have enhanced the view. A new computer drive system has also increased the speed at which the telescope can move across the starry horizon.

"Before, it took seven minutes to go around in a circle; now we can do it in a minute," said Burchell astronomy teacher Tim Lundt. "We can see more things at night now during the community shows."

A new digital camera makes it possible to take quality photographs.

The enormous telescope built by Butte resident Jim Egger is housed in a 24-by-24 metal building, complete with a retractable roof and catwalks for people to use as they peer into the sky.

On a perfect night, Lundt can focus a telescope on a single crater of the moon. Or he can see "deep sky" objects such as galaxies and nebulae.

The entire project -- telescope, observatory and components -- cost about $55,000. Most of that money came from two Alaska Science and Technology Foundation grants, an Alternative Strategies to Suspension and Expulsion grant, an Alaska Space Grant and a Jordan Fundamentals grant. A student-construction crew from Burchell worked on the building, and WeldAir was instrumental in helping with the design and construction costs.

The observatory features a 10-inch telescope that can be used on the observatory deck. The large, computer-driven telescope can be fitted with a camera that allows images to be shown on a computer screen, making access to the stars a reality for everyone.

Another new addition is the warming hut, an 8-by-8 insulated and heated shed where people can warm themselves. People with disabilities can also watch the sky from a monitor in the shed.

Lundt said he has plans to add a planetarium in the future.

"Then we could be open every Saturday, regardless of the weather," he said. "I found a projector with a dome for $10,000."

Lundt said he will start rounding up funds for the planetarium sometime next year. Currently, community shows take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, but Lundt said they close some Saturdays due to weather. He encourages people to call 355-9055 before coming out.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.