This exciting project will open the University's observatories and telescopes to the public for inspiring evenings touring the night sky and fun-filled activity days for school groups. Help us to furnish our space-themed outreach room, equip the site with engaging information boards, and make this site into an amazing resource for everyone. Then come and join us to explore the wonders of our Universe...
What is the Astrocampus?
At the University of York, we have a great site known only as ‘The Astrocampus’. It includes two observatories with three excellent telescopes (one 14" and two 10"), three solar telescopes, two radio telescopes and a large portakabin. Our dream is to upgrade the facilities to not only benefit the undergraduates here, but to enable us to open the site to the general public and school groups.
Our plan is to open the site once a week in the winter months and once a month in the summer months for public observing sessions. These will be led by volunteers from the Department of Physics. We will also open the site to school groups, who will be able to book in for exciting space-themed workshops, as well as using all of the telescopes on the site. We’ll also be open to youth groups such as Brownies, Guides, Cubs, and Scouts for evening observing.
Where will your money go?
The total cost of opening the Astrocampus as a facility for school groups and the general public is £25,000. We have already raised £16,000 so you can help us to raise the remaining £9,000. There’s a full breakdown of costs below, so you can see exactly where your money will go, but how about…
Help us to go from this… …to this…
We were generously donated a Portakabin that we are now developing into a space-themed outreach room. It will contain computers to control the radio telescopes and will have flexible furnishings to allow it to be used for schools workshops, public talks, and as somewhere to warm up when out using the telescopes!
Or help us to go from this… …to this…
Two radio telescopes will be available for use on the site. By each radio telescope and by each observatory, a display board will provide information about how the equipment works.
or from this… …to this…
Low-level red LED lighting will line the paths to make the site safe to access at night, without compromising the observing conditions.
The detail...
Stage 1: Make the site accessible and functional
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Expenditure
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Description
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Cost
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Signage
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Signs to point the way to the Astrocampus from the car park
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£324
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Lighting
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60 red LED lights to line the paths
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£1,800
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Ramps
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Ramp access to the AstroCapsule (Portakabin) to allow for disabled access
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£800
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Path levelling and widening
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Level, wide paths to allow for disabled access and safe access at night
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£500
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Furniture for the AstroCapsule (Portakabin)
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Four fitted desks with operator chairs from which to control the radio telescopes; 30 upholstered stacking chairs; 10 tables on castors (for flexible layouts); 2 storage cupboards.
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£4,116
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Storage in the Main Observatory
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2 storage cupboards
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£300
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Total
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£7,840
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Stage 2: Make the site visually appealing and informative
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Expenditure
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Description
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Cost
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Design work
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Design of our logo, the inside of the AstroCapsule, and the display boards
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£2,100
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Display boards
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Manufacture and printing of the display boards
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£1,524
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Portakabin (AstroCapsule) displays
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Stunning vinyl images that will make the Portakabin an exciting location to learn about space science
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£1,080
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Installation of displays
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To ensure that they look great...
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£624
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Total
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£5,328
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Stage 3: Publicity
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Expenditure
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Description
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Cost
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Website
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Design and coding with a content management system to keep the site updated
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£2,040
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Map
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A customised map to show the location of the Astrocampus with car parking
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£312
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Flyers
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Design and print of 10,000 flyers
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£516
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Total
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£2,868
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Stage 4: Events
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Expenditure
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Description
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Cost
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Projector and computer screens
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A projector, pull down screen and four computer screens will allow for talks, demonstrations of the radio telescopes to larger groups, and link ups to both our telescopes (via webcam) and larger telescopes around the world.
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£1,085
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Hoodies for volunteers
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Volunteers will be needed to staff the telescopes and run activities. They should be easily identifiable. There will be a team of 30 volunteers from the Department of Physics assisting at the site on a rotating basis.
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£600
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Training for Volunteers
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A 2-day training course for all volunteers that will cover the telescopes and different workshops on offer
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£1,000
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i-pads
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A set of 10 i-pads to be used by school groups for activities and as guides to the sky by the general public
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£5,031
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Opening event
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A whole-day extravaganza for school groups during the day and the general public in the evening. This will cover venue hire, food for the volunteers, refreshments for the public/schools and expenses for a key-note speaker
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£1,000
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Total
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£8,716
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Total: £24,752
Extra cash? We'd still like to add toilets to the site. Our nearest toilets are in the Physics and Electronics building, which is a 5-10 minute walk away. The cost of this will be £12,000 for both the building and plumbing.
Can’t donate? We’d still like your help…
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Click the 'I want to help' button above to help spread the word about this project
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Have useful skills or contacts? Drop us an email at astrocampus@york.ac.uk
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Keep up to date with developments at the Astrocampus by registering your interest on our website www.york.ac.uk/astrocampus
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Come along for a visit! Booking will open on our website soon.
Find out more…
