DOME
“When planetariums first became popular, it was just a projector in a room with a commentator pointing out things in the night sky with an arrow pointer,” he explained. “Slide projectors became trendy in the 1980s, back when the planetarium director had to manually change each slide as the show progressed. Now, laser projectors and computers do the work.” A state-of-the-art GOTO Chronos Space Simulator star projector was installed at YHC in 2002—the first model mounted anywhere in the world. “It simulates the night sky from anywhere in the world. It’s optical and mechanical, and it’s accurate to within 10,000 years,” said Morgan. The facility also boasts a Sky-Skan Definiti six-projector digital system that can probe anywhere in the known universe and see millions of years into the past. With this system, Morgan added, “We can even see the echo of the Big Bang.” The College saw another astronomical addition in 2002— the opening of the YHC Observatory. Located at an elevation of more than 2,000 feet less than two miles from campus on the flanks of Brasstown Bald, the facility features a Schmidt Cassegrain telescope housed in a 15-foot dome. The North Georgia Mountains Authority provided the land, cleared the site, created an access road, built bench seating and poured the concrete slab on which the structure sits. The rest is the result of generous gifts from the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation, Frances Wood Wilson Foundation and Eugene Barboza, a lifelong friend of the astronomy program. With more than 30 engaging Friday-evening public shows each year, it’s easy to forget that the planetarium and observatory are, first and foremost, learning tools. Integrating education and entertainment is a standard practice for the spaces set by the College’s first planetarium director. Westlake came to YHC after turning down a job offer from Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta—home of the state’s largest planetarium—and made it his mission to make science fun. Under his guidance, the Sky Club was formed in 1983. “It wasn’t an academic group, but more of a group of students who hung out together and appreciated astronomy,” explained Rob Stanford, ’94, who served as the organization’s president during his student days. The group assisted with shows and even had the opportunity to help create them. The cosmic concerts were always a favorite, often featuring homemade special effects created by Westlake and the students. “We had mirrors on rotating motors that reflected a laser into the dome,” recalled Stanford. “We even created a ‘storm’ inside using a large piece of metal that we shook in the catwalk for thunder and water guns that we shot from behind the back row for rain effects.” The Sky Club also contributed to the planetarium’s popularity for many years due to an inventive fundraising tactic that raised thousands of dollars for the group. For a few weeks each fall, the group transformed the space into the “Chamber of Horrors” haunted house. According to Robby Richardson, ’88, of Savannah, working in the haunted house was on his “bucket list” of things to do as a YHC student. He and his friend, Peter Lee, ’88, of 39