Howard and Astrid Preston Remote Observing Facility
Howard & Astrid Preston, Distinguished Professor, Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Astrophysics Endowed Chair Andrea Ghez, Dean of Physical Sciences Miguel Garcia-Garibay; Graduate student Devon Williams; Graduate student Shawn Knabel (right), Graduate student Devon William (left), Astronomer at Keck Observatory-Dr. Rosalie McGurk & Cat Misty (center)
No scientific instrument captures the romance of inquiry and discovery quite like the telescope. The image of an astronomer peering through a telescope late at night is forever etched in our collective consciousness. Modern technology has transformed the reality of observation from this iconic solitary vigil into a collaborative and diverse research endeavor. With the advent of remote observing, astronomers are no longer bound by the logistics, cost, and environmental impact of travel to remote mountaintop observatories.
On January 30th, 2024, we officially opened the Howard and Astrid Preston Remote Observing Facility. This state-of-the-art facility will allow faculty, postdocs, and students to carry out observations at the Keck and Mount Hamilton Observatories directly from the UCLA campus. The space is large enough to accommodate large observing teams as well as guests and is designed to accommodate this research comfortably, as observing sessions can often last up to sixteen hours. These sessions in the observing facility will provide opportunities for us to learn even more about the universe. The collaborative efforts in the facility will provide a unique space for human growth, where researchers can learn about ourselves and about one another. Removing the need for travel greatly expands our ability to use these world class telescopes as teaching tools. Hundreds of students will have the chance to make their first observations of the universe in this room.
We are deeply grateful to Howard and Astrid Preston for this amazing gift, and excited for all the opportunities it will provide for research, discovery, and wonder.