GBO Operations

The Great Basin Observatory, nestled in the pristine dark skies of Great Basin National Park, is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing astronomical research and education. With its cutting-edge technology, the observatory allows for fully remote operations and is collaboratively managed by multiple academic institutions.

Despite its remote operability, the observatory occasionally requires onsite emergency assistance, often provided by the National Park Service. A recent example involved a malfunction in the dome’s opening mechanism. Thanks to Ranger Bradley Mills the issue was swiftly resolved.

Ranger Mills serves as the Lead Astronomy Ranger at Great Basin National Park. In addition to leading the Park’s night sky program and managing a team of volunteers (who run evening programs and telescope operations), he organizes the annual Great Basin National Park Astronomy Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Ranger Mills also undertakes the role of an onsite engineer within the observatory dome. This is essential for addressing any failures in the dome mechanism, which protects sensitive equipment from adverse weather. Recently, he efficiently coordinated with remote operators to repair a critical tension strap, restoring the dome to operational status in less than an hour.

The Great Basin National Park Foundation extends our heartfelt thanks to Ranger Mills for his indispensable contributions to the smooth operation of the Great Basin Observatory.

Photo: Bradley Mills inside the Great Basin Observatory