* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: David Dunlap Observatory

Blobrana · L

University of Toronto and the Dunlap Observatory: "A breach of public trust"?

In 2008, decades after it was entrusted to the university by the Dunlap family, 79 hectares of land in Richmond Hill were sold to a private developer for $70 million dollars. The deal, which ran afoul of the original terms of the endowment, was signed over objections from astronomers within the university, community activists in Richmond Hill, and a Dunlap heiress, who put up a 20-year fight to preserve her grandfather's legacy.
When the land was originally gifted to the university, the deed, stated that if the university were to "use the land for purposes other than research," it would revert to Dunlap's heirs.
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Stargazing at the David Dunlap Observatory

Every Saturday evening, from July to October the observatory opens itself up to the public. The evening begins with a talk, something fun and interesting, but easily digestible for mass consumption. Then afterwards the crowd is invited to take advantage of the facilities and look to the heavens.
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OMB to decide fate of Dunlap Observatory land

Residents came out in full force; one after the other, they approached the microphone at a recent Richmond Hill council meeting, pleading for the David Dunlap Observatory lands to remain development-free.
One of the last green spaces in the booming 905 community, they argued; home to deer and other wildlife, woodlands, a 19th-century farmstead and the famed 76-year-old observatory itself, housing the country's largest optical telescope through which the first mass black hole was discovered.
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Over 150 people attended Astronomy Day festivities at the observatory on May 7, 2011. They were treated to views of the moon and Saturn with its moons through the big telescope. Also there were views of other celestial delights through smaller telescopes on the lawn.
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Observatory grounds wont get provincial heritage designation

The province believes the David Dunlap Observatory Lands have the protection needed and has no plans to step in to further protect the property through a provincial heritage designation, the minister of tourism and culture said this week.
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Friday's long awaited court case for Metrus facing alleged breaches of the town's tree preservation bylaw on the David Dunlap Observatory lands was a brief one.
No charges were laid or even presented for that matter, as disclosure by the town regarding their findings and details on the November incident, was only released to legal representatives of Corsica/Metrus and Hermann's Contracting Ltd. that same morning.
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An extension has been given for public comment regarding the town's three possible design scenarios for David Dunlap Observatory land.
Residents will now have until Jan. 4 to respond via the town's website or by hard copy at 225 East Beaver Creek Rd.
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Blobrana · L

Big step for Observatory protection
Richmond Hill's efforts to preserve the history and future of the David Dunlap Observatory took a big step forward with the unveiling of their draft heritage protection bylaw.

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Astronomers feud over historic observatory
Broken friendships. Public feuding. Fiercely emotional accusations.
Rarely has a telescope caused as much angst as the 74-inch reflector model inside the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill, where a group of displeased astronomers - including the man who discovered black holes using the Dunlap telescope - is trying to prevent the observatory from reopening later this week.

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