Dr. Gregory Feiden tried not to get his hopes up when he learned the University System of Georgia Board of Regents would vote on a plan to replace the aging observatory at the University of North Georgia. But he and other members of UNG's physics department celebrated when the project received USG's seal of approval.
"Now I can revel in the excitement," said Feiden, assistant professor of astronomy at UNG. "I think it will be wonderful on all fronts, including teaching students, educating the public and conducting research."
Dr. Richard Prior, head of the physics department at UNG, said UNG needs a new, more modern observatory considering the current facility is 20 years old. Ken Crowe, assistant vice president of facilities at UNG, agreed.
"It is long overdue," Crowe said.
The plan is to demolish the North Georgia Astronomical Observatory and build a state-of-the-art facility in the same spot on top of a hill about 4 miles from campus near Pine Valley, UNG's outdoor recreation complex in Dahlonega. The new facility is expected to have office space, storage space, a small classroom area, a public-access space, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette.
Accompanying the new building will be two new telescopes with domes anchoring the ends of the facility.
The estimated construction cost of the new single-level 3,200-square-foot building is about $1.4 million, which the university will fund.
