Location
The members of the RASC Okanagan are committed to a
"no-compromise" dark site, suitable for public access as well as
providing totally dark skies ideal for research exploration. Such a
location was found on the Big White road and application for a nominal
lease on the Crown Land proceeds apace.



Click for larger versions
of these maps. Drawings courtesy of Heather
Maxwell and Jim Failes.
Geographical
The climate, limited light pollution and terrain of the Okanagan
combine to provide an excellent location for an observatory. Terry
Dickinson's article which says on page 13, Mar/Apr '06 SkyNews that
"the south end of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, has the driest,
most astronomy-friendly climate in southern Canada." Further testimony
about the Okanagan's suitability for astronomy by Alan Dyer on page 14.
In the 1960’s the government of Canada QEII site survey chose the south
Okanagan Mount Kobau as the location to build a new National
Observatory based on the large proportion of clear nights, transparent
skies, and fine seeing. Mount Kobau is the apex of astronomical
locations in our area, but there are a multitude of other excellent
locations that will offer great promise to our observatory planning,
building and ultimate use.
Light pollution is a major factor in determining the location of an
observatory and we are fortunate here in the Okanagan in that once
outside of the valley bottom the effects of errant light drop off
suddenly. In choosing our observatory location we had to balance the
need for public access with a minimum of light exposure from the nearby
urban areas and as can be seen by the light pollution maps below a fair
compromise was reached. The maps graphically display the amount of
light pollution with the brightest areas shown as red and diminishing
levels transitioning to orange, yellow, green, blue and finally no
colour added for areas that are completely dark for astronomical
purposes.
Light Pollution Map General
Centered on the Okanagan valley and including southwest BC and northwest Washington state
Light Pollution Map Detail
A close up view of Kelowna, the Observatory location and Big White
Cultural
The spectacular growth and development of the Okanagan region marks it
as a leader in initiative and progress whose development of an
astronomical observatory would be a crowning achievement. The
sophisticated population of our community is curious and appreciative
of the many aspects of astronomical inquiry that explore our universal
context. A first class astronomical observatory would be a strong
tourist attraction, bringing to our destination even more opportunities
of enrichment. RASC Okanagan Centre members have a long track record of
community outreach, which has been enthusiastically received. For five
years RASC Okanagan Centre members have participated in sidewalk
astronomy sessions where each night hundreds of people express their
appreciation and wonder of the grand scale and illuminating concepts
astronomy brings to the fore.
Educational
For many years members of the RASC Okanagan Centre have visited
classrooms and offered night time observing sessions to a growing
number of students that are encouraged and supported in exploring the
possibilities and opportunities that present in astronomy and science
in general. There is an excellent potential for possible partnership
with UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College. RASC Okanagan Centre member
Richard Christie is a professor at Okanagan College and offers his
full-support to our project, and he has suggested that some of the
trades classes at the college might be called on to help with design
and construction. Our project has received the endorsement of UBC
Associate Dean of Research and Strategic Planning, Melanie Jones.
Research
The Okanagan has one of Canada’s premiere astronomical research
facilities at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory and thus
there are many professional astronomers in our region that could find
benefit in, and would help support, a large aperture telescope. Our
project has the endorsement of DRAO Research Associate Dr Tyler Foster.