WNC telescope needs $30,000 repair

Western Nevada College Jack C. Davis Observatory’s C400 Takahashi telescope can still look exceptionally long toward the stars from Carson City. Only a broken mount keeps it from doing what it was meant to do for years.

For most telescopes, a broken mount might not be unique, but the Takahashi itself might be, according to observatory Director Thomas Herring.

“We’re almost certain there are less than 10 of them in the world, and there are probably more like three or four,” he told the Appeal.

The WNC’s observatory has a proud history of educating students and the public, hosting star parties with several telescopes on Saturday nights with volunteers, teaching astronomy and conducting research on site.

The Takahashi, the facility’s “biggest problem” in terms of equipment, is one Herring hopes to see restored to full function for educational and exploratory purposes. It would be the JCDO’s best means of stargazing with its long focal length and mechanical quality.

“It's a very unique instrument as these were built on demand, not mass manufactured,” Herring said.

WNC originally purchased the C400 telescope for about $50,000 about 20 years ago thanks to federal grants when Sen. John Ensign was in office. But a mount capable of handling an instrument of its size then would have cost about $250,000, which was and has been out of the department’s budget.

As an alternative, designers built a mount designed to handle a telescope for 150 pounds for $20,000 instead, Herring said. But in time, the mount wore out with use. Today, it handles a load of about 200 pounds, Herring said, so overloading over time became apparent.

At minimum now, it would take about $30,000 to $40,000 to replace the mount.

“We’ve got a $50,000 telescope that is essentially decoration right now,” he said. “We get to talk to people on Saturday nights. You can see into it and say, ‘Here’s the big mirror, here’s the secondary mirror, here’s how it kind of works,’ and it’s exciting to look at, it’s big. But it currently doesn’t do any imaging or science work at all, and it’s probably our most capable telescope, optically, but you’ve got to be able to move it around.”

Meanwhile, Herring and volunteers at the observatory continue to offer visitors a chance to explore space through the James Webb telescope. Demonstrations through instruments like the Webb for a distinct, high-resolution views of the moon or Saturn from the JCDO’s patio during star parties still attract anywhere from about five to 30 interested community members or out-of-town visitors who find the JCDO online.

But Herring said it will take grant funding or generous donations to help bring the Takahashi back to life, and as a part of the observatory’s history, he would like to preserve it as much as possible.

“The optical tube assembly (telescope) is still an amazing instrument and not using it for exploration is a tough pill to swallow,” he said.

For more information, visit www.wnc.edu/observatory.