In the years leading up to the renovation of the OSU Planetarium, we have been plagued by an increasingly leaky roof.  This led to water damage on the old projection dome and the control console, and after really big rain storms we'd even find water pooling on some of the old seats!

Before we can install the new planetarium system, the roof needs to be fixed.  This is no simple task, as the roof over the planetarium room is also the observing deck of the Smith Lab Observatory.  At the center of the observing deck is the enclosure with the rotating dome housing our 12-inch telescope, and around the outside we would setup smaller telescopes to show visitors the night-time sky.  Some 40 years of weather and foot traffic took their toll.  In some areas, the roofing became depressed down and sagged, allowing rain water and melting snow to pool, working its way through cracks in the concrete slab and into the planetarium.  Around the edges of the observatory enclosure, the seals have decayed, allowing water to leak in during big rain storms.

The good news is that the roof repair is now proceeding at a rapid pace, and when done in December, our roof and observing deck will be better than ever!

Cracks in the concrete slab have now been sealed, and the old rusted rails that were once used for a long-vanished roll-off shed have been removed (no more trip hazard in the dark).  A new sloped roof has been built up on top of the slab overlaid by a modern water barrier layer.  The gentle slope will help drain off water and melting snow to gutters around the outside of the deck.  On top of this sloped layer, a level set of concrete pavers will be installed giving us a new walking surface.  It will better hold up under foot traffic than the old surface, and give us a stable place to setup telescope during star parties.

In addition to the new roof, they are also putting up new siding on the observatory enclosure and installing new, energy-efficient LED lighting.  When we re-open in the Spring, we'll have a brand new observing deck that will let us expand our night-time viewing programs for classes and the general public.

Best of all, once the roof is sealed up and water tight, we can start work on the inside of the planetarium!

For more progress pictures, and news about future public observing sessions, visit our facebook page.