The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory has seen a number of advances over the past few years, including an upgrade of the research capability of the two main telescopes and the commissioning of a third, a Patrol Camera, from a throughly renovated and remounted Baker-Nunn Satellite Tracking Camera, sent from the Canadian Forces base at Cold Lake in 1980, when the housing for the new 1.5-m (now 1.8-m) telescope was completed. The work was carried out mainly under a provincial research infrastructure improvement grant. A provincial Science Awareness and Promotion grant was also awarded to enhance and upgrade the RAO's successful Open House program. After many tribulations, this program is coming to fruition this year with a series of Open Houses that will make use of the new 100-seat Visitors' Centre. A microwave link to the university has been made possible by Professor Jim Brown in the Geology & Geophysics Dept. for seismic array and astronomical data transfer, and, through it, webcasts of activities at the Open Houses may be made in the near future.
In September, I stepped down from the RAO directorship, and Rene Plume
became acting director, so a new generation has taken over a revitalized
observatory, which, hopefully, will play a continuing role in
observational discoveries, instrumentation and technique developments,
and in education & outreach. The history of the RAO may be found at the
url: www.ucalgary.ca/milone/rao.html
which also carries links to the new operational website administered by
Rene.
- E. F. Milone, Professor & RAO Director Emeritus