Astronomy Lab Q&A

Astronomy Laboratory Q & A

Why build an astronomy lab?

UNC Asheville's Physics Department has a well-established core of astronomy classes, but lacks a laboratory/observatory for coursework and undergraduate research. Taking astronomy classes is frequently the first step that young people take toward productive careers in science and mathematics. The new astronomy lab will help promote and expand STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education in our community and on our campus.  The new lab facility will provide our Physics department and Astronomy students with the capacity for research and scientific observation currently enjoyed by students and faculty in our other science departments.

How will it be funded?

The Astronomy Club of Asheville is funding the full cost of building the facility, and is donating one of two 14-inch telescopes that will be permanently installed at the lab. UNC Asheville already owns the second 14-inch telescope, as well the portable telescopes that will be used at the lab.  

Who will use the new lab?

The new facility will serve as a modern lab for the 300 students who study introductory astronomy each year and as a research facility for students pursuing advanced study and undergraduate research projects in astronomy, astrophysics and experimental physics. The lab, which will accommodate up to 25 students and staff, will also be used for special sessions for area K-12 schools and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, many of whose members are active amateur astronomers. It will be used as well as by the Astronomy Club of Asheville.

Where will the lab be located?

The new lab will be located at the end of Nut Hill Road (referred to by some as Chestnut Ridge Road), on a very small portion (.07 acre) of the 65-acre property owned by the university that sits north of Reuter Center and the Sherrill Center, above Lookout Road. Nut Hill Road is a gated and paved access road built by the university a number of years ago. 

Why did you pick this site?

The site was selected for its excellent sky views and because it is subject to minimal vibration and light pollution, which are both key to optimal astronomical study. The lab will sit well below the ridgeline on the lower part of the property facing the campus. The lab's small footprint will allow it to easily blend into the site.

What will the building look like and what will it contain?

The astronomy laboratory, which is being designed by Padgett & Freeman Architects of Asheville, will be a one-story, 1,300-square-foot structure. The retractable roof will slide open to allow full-sky viewing from two 14-inch telescopes that will be permanently installed inside a 600-square-foot, minimally heated room. The laboratory will accommodate up to 25 students and staff.

Because winter skies offer excellent possibilities for astronomical viewing, the facility will also contain a "warming room" for students, visitors and staff. There will also be a paved terrace outside the building where portable telescopes can be set up. The building will have equipment storage, composting toilets and minimal outdoor lighting, since dark skies are essential for good viewing.

The retractable roof, which operates with hydraulics, can be hand-cranked open or shut in the event of a power failure.  Plans include muted, natural-tone exterior incorporating stone into portions of the façade, so that the building blends into its surroundings.

There will be parking only for facility staff and those users needing handicapped access.

When will construction begin?

 Construction of the laboratory is expected to begin in Summer 2012 and the lab is projected to be in use during the 2012-13 academic year.

Will there be any trees removed due to construction?

Yes, some tree trimming and tree removal will be required for construction and optimal astronomical lines of sight. All hardwoods removed will be recycled for use in future university projects.  The university will take a conservative and preservationist approach to tree removal, which will be conducted in two phases. In Phase One, only those trees necessary to build the infrastructure and facility will be removed. Once the construction project is completed, Phase Two will remove only those trees or tree branches necessary for optimal astronomical lines of sight.

New landscaping appropriate to the lab's functions will be added over time; this landscaping will feature plants native to the region, which will add to the preservation of local flora. 

Will the new lab increase traffic in the adjacent neighborhood?

No, there should not be an increase in traffic along Lookout Road or adjacent roads. Nut Hill Road, which intersects with Lookout Road, will remain gated. Classes and groups using the lab will be transported by campus shuttle. Parking at the lab will be limited to facility staff and users requiring handicapped access.   

Will the construction or presence of the lab change the existing hiking trails?

No, the existing hiking trails will remain the same and will not be disturbed.

Will the new lab add light or noise to the area?

No, the astronomy lab needs a low-light, low-vibration environment and will not create any noise when in use. Therefore, the university will be incorporating full cut-off lighting in this project to minimize light pollution that would interfere with astronomical observation.  Likewise, the scale and design of the project also includes features to reduce vibration, and therefore noise, as vibration would also disturb viewing with the sensitive telescope technology to be used in the facility.

Will the construction or presence of the lab affect any ongoing faculty or student environmental research?

No, currently there is no student or faculty research under way in this .07 acres of the property.

Construction and operation of the new lab will not disturb ongoing research being done by the Environmental Studies and the Biology departments elsewhere on the 65-acre property.

Where do students do their observations now? 

Astronomy classes have regular evening observing sessions with portable telescopes on the Quad. To read more, go here: http://www.unca.edu/features/binary-stars-their-eyes. This observation site is less than ideal due to light pollution from campus buildings surrounding the Quad.  The new facility will address this limitation and add significant opportunities for advanced study and research. 

The new astronomy lab will also complement the university's ongoing research in radio astronomy that is carried out in partnership with the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute near Brevard.  To read more about UNC Asheville's work at PARI, go here: http://www.unca.edu/features/dishing-data

To see the news release about the new lab, go here: http://www.unca.edu/news-events/news/2012/4/unc-asheville-partners-astronomy-club-asheville-build-star-gazing-lab-novel

Architectural Renderings

West Elevation

Building Section and Retractable Roof

Floor Plan