The nation’s largest amateur telescope could be coming to the Stansbury Park Observatory Complex.
The telescope, which was constructed by Herriman resident Mike Clements, may be installed in Stansbury Park by the Salt Lake Astronomical Society, according to director Rodger Fry. The telescope features a 70-inch mirror and is about 35 feet long.
The massive mirror on the telescope was purchased by Clements after it was deemed unfit to serve in a Cold War-era spy satellite due to a small chip on the mirror’s edge.
Fry said the astronomical society plans to construct a building about 40 feet long on a concrete slab about 90 feet long. The building will be set on tracks and slide away from the telescope, which will be mounted in place on the concrete slab.
By sliding the building away, the telescope will have a free range of motion to be oriented as necessary, Fry said.
“We’re willing to house it at SPOC if we’re able to build a facility,” he said.
The new building is expected to cost about $20,000, which will be a metal-sided structure designed to cover the telescope. Fry said he expects the cost of construction to be donated so the only expense will be materials.
The new telescope will dwarf the current telescope at SPOC, which sports a 30-inch mirror. When a telescope doubles the diameter of its mirror, it squares the amount of light gathering, Fry said. He described the images seen through the larger telescope as “absolutely phenomenal.”
When Clements approached SLAS about a permanent home for the amateur telescope, SPOC was a logical fit, Fry said. The complex is already operated by the astronomical society, which hosts star parties and other events.
Plans to relocate the telescope were discussed at the Stansbury Park Service Agency meeting last Wednesday. Service agency board member Glenn Oscarson presented the proposal to place the new telescope alongside the current observatory.
SLAS is looking for a lease agreement with the service agency allowing them to build the concrete pad and outbuilding for the telescope. Oscarson also suggested an agreement that the service agency won’t put lights on the baseball field next to SPOC.
Having a unique feature like the largest amateur telescope would be a potential source of tourism for the community, Oscarson said. SLAS applied for a grant through the Tooele County Tourism Tax Advisory Board for funds toward construction of the new facility.
“In fact, as I evaluate it, this would be the single coolest thing in Tooele County,” Oscarson said.
The service agency board agreed in principle to investigate a lease that would give the astronomical society permission to build alongside its existing campus. No timetable for a final decision on a lease agreement has been set.