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The montage below illustrates how the skies at the Madawaska Highlands Observatory compares
with existing major Canadian Observatories. The sky brightness
map ( Cinzano and Thiene, Italy - 1998) suggest that the Madawaska Highlands Observatory skies
are significantly darker than the skies of any major Canadian
observatory. All major Canadian observatories are in or near large
cities. Mont-Megantic in southern Quebec, which has the darkest
skies of the existing Canadian observatories is 60 km to the east
of Sherbrooke with a population approaching 200,000. All of these
observatories were established 32 to 100 years ago when the nearby
towns and cities were a small fraction of their current population.
The David Dunlap Observatory in Toronto was closed on June 30,
2008*. Due to the very bright night skies, cost of operations
($600,000 annually), low scientific productivity and the desire
of the University of Toronto to cash in on the extremely valuable
land estimated at $70 million. Some of the funds were used to
establish the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics
in 2009.
In 2010 the University of Western Ontario is planning to close
the 1.2m Elginfield Observatory established in 1969. The deteriorating
night skies is listed has the primary cause.
The brightness of the night sky at the Elginfield Observatory
is certainly much better (darker) than those at Dominion Astrophysical
Observatory in Victoria and the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory
near Calgary. Which leads one to believe if these two major Canadian
Observatories will eventually be closed down!
It's VERY EMBARRASSING that the only national observatory
on Canadian soil is the 1918 Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Plaskett Telescope, an antique of 19th century technology. This
telescope should be in a museum, not listed listed as the premier
national observatory on Canadian soil!!!!!
It is in the best interest of promoting astronomy and raising
the profile of Canadian astronomers to have at least one world
class state-of-the-art telescope on Canadian soil. This is one
of the motivating factors behind the Madawaska Highlands Observatory. Indeed
a modest 1m class in a superb site can thrust astronomy in Canada
to the national level by making important discoveries right here
in Canada. Having an Earth sized planet discovered in Canada would
drive interest in Astronomy, science and promote astronomy in
Canada as never before. Indeed a world class telescope in Canada
where Canadians could go and visit with exposure to federal politicians
from Ottawa who could visit, would give Canadian astronomers political
leverage.
Major Canadian Observatories
| Observatory |
Size(m) |
Established |
Institution |
| Dominion Astrophysical |
1.8 |
1918 |
U. Victoria/Federal |
| Dominion Astrophysical |
1.2 |
1962 |
U. Victoria/Federal |
| Rothney Astrophysical |
1.8 |
1972-1996 |
U. Calgary (Upgrade in 1996) |
| Elginfield |
1.2 |
1969 |
U. Western Ontario (Closed
2010) |
| David Dunlap |
1.88 |
1935 |
U. of Toronto (Closed 2008) |
| Mont Megantic |
1.6 |
1978 |
U. Montreal-Laval/Provincial |
The circle shows a radius of 100 km.
|
Color Mag.
|
Bortle Class
|
Sky Brightness mag/arcsec²
|
Sky Brightens Artificial/Natural
|
|
7.6 - 8.0
|
1
|
>21.6
|
<0.01
|
|
7.1 - 7.5
|
2
|
21.6 to 21.5
|
0.01 to 0.11
|
|
6.6 -7.0
|
3
|
21.5 to 21.3
|
0.11 to 0.33
|
|
6.3 - 6.5
|
4
|
21.3 to 20.8
|
0.33 to 1.0
|
|
6.1 - 6.3
|
5
|
20.8 to 20.1
|
1.0 to 3.0
|
|
5.6 - 6.0
|
6,7
|
20.1 to 19.1
|
3.0 to 9.0
|
|
5.0 - 5.5
|
8
|
19.1 to 18.0
|
9.0 to 27.0
|
|
<4.5
|
9
|
<18.0
|
>27.0
|
* Now used for outreach and education.
Next: Clear dark hours per
year
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