In the late 1970s, standing under the dome of Dartmouth College’s Shattuck Observatory, former Dartmouth student Doug Arion first learned to operate the 1871 Clark refracting telescope. This 9-inch telescope, a groundbreaking piece of scientific equipment, was run by students and deeply treasured by Arion, whose college nights were defined by the stars.
“The opportunity to use a big historic instrument when you like playing with telescopes is pretty cool. And we could do that any time,” he said.
Today, however, the observatory tells a different story. With chipped walls, a dome that struggles to open and a rusted telescope, this observatory, once filled with students, is etched by the passage of time.
In an effort to prevent this historic resource from falling apart, Arion, a now long-time astronomer, has decided to fund a full refurbishment of both the observatory’s telescope and dome. In 2028, when the observatory reopens, he hopes for a revival of what once was.
The team behind the transformation
This Clark refracting telescope was created in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 155 years ago at Alvan Clark & Sons, one of the best optics and telescope manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries. This year, it will chart a familiar course, heading to the Boston Science LLC in Massachusetts to be restored by a different family of craftsmen: the Sliskis.
Alan Sliski and his son Aaron Sliski are two of the few experts capable of restoring this instrument.
“There is nobody else that does it. So eventually, I get the call that somebody would like to do one of these telescopes. I don’t advertise. I have no website, nothing,” Alan Sliski said.
Because of the telescope’s poor condition, it needs to be stripped down to the bare metal and, over the next two years, undergo a complete transformation. The Sliskis will replace the rusting bolts and rebuild and paint the instrument.
For Alan Sliski, this telescope is going through what he called “the old junk phase.” This is a period of being ignored, with the paint starting to peel and the instrument showing some wear.
However, he said, “If it can survive that, all of a sudden, today, it’s now a cool thing again.”
He looks forward to the restoration process, as for him, “every fastener is a little adventure.”
While the telescope is being repaired in Massachusetts, back in New Hampshire, Dartmouth’s Facilities Operations and Management team will refurbish the dome, from putting in new floors to a comprehensive waterproofing system.
Arion will play a key role in supporting the restoration and refurbishment process. After graduating from Dartmouth in 1979, Arion pursued a career in astronomy and today serves as the executive director of Mountains of Stars. He is excited to see the installation of an HVAC system in the dome. According to him, “The reason that things are falling apart, to a certain extent, is because moisture accumulates in here, and that’s a big problem. That’s what’s been killing things.”
A gift to the community
Once the restoration process is finished, Marie Calapa, the instructional lab manager for Dartmouth’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, will operate the observatory.
During Arion’s time as a student, the observatory was open every Monday night for public viewing. Today, engagement with the telescope is limited, and Calapa is intent on changing this.
Calapa hopes to showcase the observatory with pride, offering frequent public observing events, art shows, alumni gatherings, and dance expos. “I am eager to bring that kind of energy back to the space and gift it to the community and to Dartmouth,” said Calapa.
According to Arion, Calapa plays a critical role in the restoration. “What’s not uncommon is somebody gives money, you build something, and then nobody uses it,” he explained.
“So having Marie here, somebody who’s really going to run this and do programs with it, makes it worthwhile,” Arion added.
The team hopes that this renovation not only revives a valuable piece of technology but also garners further appreciation for the discipline of astronomy.
According to Calapa, Shattuck Observatory is “the oldest scientific building on campus. It’s the turning point from Dartmouth being a place to just learn how to read and write to someplace that was doing state-of-the-art research.”
“It has a deep worth in its connection to the history of science and getting people excited about science, particularly through astronomy,” added Calapa.
The telescope offers a one-of-a-kind experience. For Arion, using a telescope is like going to a concert. “Why the hell go to a concert when you can stream it all? Because it’s a visceral experience,” he said.
According to Arion, the same is true for telescopes. “It’s your eye collecting photons from space. It’s not about looking at a picture on a screen that could easily be generated by photoscopes all over the world. It’s the experience of actually seeing something yourself. “
Arion, Alan Sliski, and Calapa are excited to collaborate in the coming years to bring back the 1871 Clark refracting telescope and make an impact on the community.
Arion envisions a bright future for the Shattuck Observatory.
“It will outlive me. I mean otherwise, all the stuff you do in your life, you know, it evaporates,” he said. “This will be something where my name will not have gone in vain for doing what I hope is some good stuff.”