Rich Olson from the Ash Manufacturing Company based in Plainfield, Illinois, just sent some really cool pictures showing his company refurbishing an observatory dome for Institut d’Astrophysique de l’Université de Liège in Belgium. The dome, which astronomers call the TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope) Dome, sits at an altitude of nearly 7,900 feet (2,400 meters) atop a mountain near La Silla, Chile. It has been in need of repair for some time now. The university took action when one of the astronomers commented that, sooner or later, the dome would collapse.
The TRAPPIST Dome sits in the mountains near La Silla, Chile. Look at the color of that sky! // All images courtesy Ash Dome
Workers from Ash Dome begin to lift the dome into place.
Perhaps standing directly under the dome isn’t such a great idea.
This wide-angle shot shows the rugged landscape around the observatory.
The crane operator slowly lowers the dome into place.
With the installation of a few more bolts and some electrical connections made, this observatory will gather celestial images the same night it’s completed.