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News — The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is reopening its observatory after more than a decade of inactivity, thanks in part to the overwhelming enthusiasm sparked by the university’s public event for the Great North American Eclipse on April 8, 2024. The observatory, located atop Stabler Hall, has undergone renovations and will officially celebrate its reopening March 31.

“It all started with the solar eclipse,” said Dr. Greg Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy. “I got a grant from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium to purchase nearly 60 telescopes for members of the campus community and the public to celebrate the event and experience the wonder of the solar eclipse. I saw the momentum and excitement that was caused by the event. A lot of people were showing a renewed interest in space and astronomy. I thought it was a good idea to get the observatory reopened and to do something with all those telescopes and public interest.”

UA Little Rock will celebrate the observatory’s reopening with an open house starting at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, in the Physics Building 101. Following a ribbon cutting and presentation, guests will have the opportunity to tour the observatory space (weather permitting). 

The observatory had previously been closed for more than 10 years. Guisbiers gained approval from university leadership to begin restoration efforts, enlisting the help of faculty, staff, and students. The team cleaned out the space, installed new flooring, painted, and reinstalled an 11-inch telescope in the dome.

Matthew Burningham, a senior physics major from Las Vegas, was one of several students at UA Little Rock who participated in the efforts to reopen the observatory. During the campus solar eclipse celebration in 2024, Burningham saw firsthand how excited members of the community were to learn more about space and astronomy when he showed people how to use telescopes and ran the inflatable planetarium provided by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium.

“I am extremely excited to get the observatory going again,” Burningham said. “I believe the observatory is a good start to getting astronomy back into the spotlight. The observatory will allow us to go back to showing some of the wonders of space to the students directly. This feels like a small thing when 3D high-definition images are so often available, but there is something powerful in seeing these things first hand. It is my hope that seeing space will inspire students to further the understanding of science and get more students into the STEM fields.”

The observatory’s dome, originally built in 1930 by newspaper executive Frederick Allsopp for his astronomy-enthusiast wife, was donated to the university in 1970 and installed on Stabler Hall during the tenure of Chancellor Carey V. Stabler. In its prime, the observatory hosted up to 70 events a year. While that number won’t be matched, Guisbiers plans to hold about 10 observations annually, offering both daytime and nighttime events. Daytime sessions will allow visitors to observe the sun, including sunspots and eclipses, while nighttime viewings will focus on planets, meteor showers, and galaxies.

“The observatory will serve as a gateway to scientific discovery, inspiring students and community members to explore the wonders of astronomy through hands-on learning experiences,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School.

“We are very happy to reactivate this rooftop space and to maximize the use of the telescopes we obtained for the eclipse event,” Provost Ann Bain added.

The revitalization of the observatory not only marks an important chapter in UA Little Rock’s history but also reaffirms the university’s commitment to fostering scientific curiosity and engagement for students and the community alike.