I own a telescope, but its diameter is just over 5″, which greatly limits what I am able to see in the night’s sky. I have graduated to a setup with a gravitational mount, meaning that with the attachment of a motor and proper alignment with the Celestial North, I can track the stars. Along with an iOptron Skytracker, I am able to observe and take decent photos of the stars.

The added functionality of a tracking system makes observation a smooth process. While I appreciate the precision that is necessary to align and track certain astronomical objects, it can be a deterrent on nights I don’t have the drive to assemble and dismantle the setup, and in addition encourage others to follow me on such an endeavor. For this reason, I recognize that a rich personal experience of astronomical observation may not be connecting with a significant percentage of people who may otherwise enjoy it. The average person may not own a telescope, much less have membership in an amateur astronomy group, despite an interest in the cosmos. I can respect the greater knowledge and exclusivity of such groups, but I think it is important to broadly cultivate an intellectual, existential, and even emotional appreciation within the general public.

There has been great publicizing of astronomy and space exploration through the research of astronomers and astrophysicists, in addition to popular movies and television shows. Images from the Hubble Space Telescope represent some of the most beautiful displays that the universe can offer; at least at the macroscopic scale. These examples expose people to astronomy, but there is a gap that I would like to fill. I think architecture and programming have an opportunity to connect the average citizen with science in a personal, everyday sort of way.

One of my dreams is to build my own telescope and observatory and potentially combine its program with that of a restaurant and cafe. The idea has varied in my mind, from something akin to a neighborhood clubhouse, to that of a Hard Rock Cafe (but representing different types of hard rocks). There are benefits to each scale, with the former being more niche and more appropriately sized to the likely number of patrons, and the latter allowing for powerful astronomical equipment to be embedded within the architecture of the place. There have been many large amateur telescopes built, but they often are made to maximize function for precise observation. My intent is for something that can be a hybrid of a building and telescope, in that its primary function would be as a building, but it just so happens to be a telescope. Sir William Herschel’s 40′ telescope is closer to my imagined design.

The photo at the top is an observatory built by a few avid astronomers just outside of the Spanish colonial town Villa de Leyva , Colombia. I found it by chance while visiting a El Museo y Monasterio de Santo Ecce Homo north of Sutamarchán and Villa de Leyva, and seeing it sparked my desire to design and construct an observatory and telescope of my own. They designed and built everything, and the photo of the moon seen below was taken through the telescope. Unfortunately we did not get a chance to revisit the observatory after nightfall, however if I ever visit Villa de Leyva again (which I expect I will), I definitely plan to make a stop back there. This was an example of a small place that served a small number of avid astronomers. Because city lights are the enemy, such a program becomes somewhat reclusive.

 

I rather like this type of arrangement, and think that it is probably the most feasible. On the other hand, I think incorporating some need of passers by, such as food and/or drink could help to create more outreach.

If outreach and theme are taken to an extreme, the Hard Rock Cafe concept becomes an interesting consideration. In the images below, I have begun to imagine a large structure that can fulfill the function of building, but also telescope.

For the largest telescopes in the world, the precise fabrication, operation, and maintenance drive costs to the sky. This is why I am considering a design that is large and powerful, but also fixed and strategic. I imagine bringing in a large amount of starlight through a large diameter, and projecting the light onto a surface that can make the experience more human and shared. When having a viewing party, the experience is usually one at a time with a small eyepiece. With a large diameter telescope focusing light onto a communal viewing surface, the experience could be shared and be potentially more meaningful. There are a great number of difficulties to such a grandiose proposition, but it is one I greatly enjoy considering, down to the names of the drinks and meals. Hopefully someday, Avogradro’s Avocado Bacon Burger will be a reality, but perhaps that is taking hybridization too far.

If you care to visit this astronomical observatory while visiting Boyaca, here is my approximation of its location: