SPOC: The Early Years
1976 to 1983

Surely there are more pictures from "the old days" out there.
If you have any you'd like to share, please let me know.
(click on images for enlarged view)


001

Cover of the August 1976 issue of the SLAS newsletter announcing the new observatory.
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002

PDF version of the cover of the August 1976 SLAS newsletter announcing the planned observatory.

003

SLAS chairman's announcement in the August 1976 SLAS newsletter about the planned observatory.

004

Bruce Grim, Patrick Wiggins and Jerry Montgomery in front of SPOC's Montgomery Observatory in October 1976.

005

A much younger Patrick Wiggins checks out the 40 cm Grim reflector.  This picture was used in the 20 JAN 1977 Salt Lake Tribune article on the observatory and on the cover of the March/April 1981 issue of Nova.

006

Salt Lake Tribune article dated 20 JAN 1977.  This may have been the first public print announcement about the observatory.

007

A much hairier Bruce Grim works on the 40 cm Grim reflector.  FEB 1977

008

40 cm Grim reflector seen from the slit of the Montgomery observatory.  Unknown photographer looks through the door.  FEB 1977

009

40 cm Grim reflector seen from outside the Montgomery observatory.  FEB 1977

010

40 cm Grim reflector seen from inside the Montgomery observatory.  Note carpet not yet installed.  FEB 1977

011

Chuck Hards & Bruce Grim with the 40 cm Grim reflector from inside the Montgomery observatory.  Note carpet not yet installed.  FEB 1977

012

Montgomery observatory dome completed, before the rotation system was installed.  FEB 1977

013

Patrick Wiggins checks out the 40 cm Grim reflector.  This picture was shot for the 17 MAR 1977 Deseret News article on the observatory.

014

Patrick Wiggins checks out the 40 cm Grim reflector.  This picture was shot for the 17 MAR 1977 Deseret News article on the observatory.

015

Deseret News article dated 19 MAR 1977.

016

Invitation that was sent our for the observatory's dedication.

017

SLAS's first star party brochure.  Used between 1977 and 1980.  It was a 2 sided document with the picture of the telescope on the front and the data on the back.

018

First news release about star part parties at SPOC, dated Summer 1977.

019

PDF version of the first news release about star part parties at SPOC, dated Summer 1977.

020

Announcement in the 14 MAR 1977 Deseret News of the upcoming opening of the Stansbury Park Observatory Complex.

021

SPOC from above.  Dave Chamberlin and Patrick Wiggins took this shot sometime between October 1976 and March 1983.  Can you help narrow down the date?

022

SPOC from above.  Also visible (barely) is Patrick Wiggins' first observatory.  His dome is the tiny white spot to the lower right of the building at the very center of the picture.  27 MAR 1983

023

Bruce Grim works on one of the original SPOC lightshields.  No idea of the date.  Do you know?

024

Patrick Wiggins and Dave Chamberlin install one of the original SPOC light shields.  No idea of the date.

025

Closeup of Dave Chamberlin and Patrick Wiggins installing one of the original SPOC light shields.  This image appeared in the July 1980 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine (page 19).  No idea of the date the picture was taken.