The University of Nevada, Reno recently unveiled the new MacLean Astronomy Building and Observatory Complex. The new buildings were largely made possible by new funding from the Jack Van Sickle Foundation which gave generously to UNR in 2010.
(image courtesy of my4news)
The complex is the newest in Nevada and includes two large research-grade telescopes mounted in 12-foot-diameter domes, as well as 6 anchored pedestals for mounting smaller telescopes.
The Maclean Observatory will allow for numerous educational and research opportunities for UNR, local community college, and elementary school students as well as the general public.
The two telescopes now housed in the new astronomy complex are the 14-inch-diameter Jones Telescope and the 22-inch-diameter MacLean Telescope.
The Jones Telescope will be used primarily for public outreach and science education. It will be used for education and planetarium programs.
The Maclean Telescope, the largest in Nevada, has been refurbished with the latest imaging and digital remote control technology, thus increasing its capabilities five-fold. It will be available for university education and research.
Jeff Thompson, Dean of the UNR College of Science, praised the new observatory complex saying, “The new observatory will greatly benefit our teaching and outreach efforts....We are thrilled to be able to introduce more students at all levels to astronomy and science.”
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