International Dark Sky Discovery Center Breaks Ground in Fountain Hills

The International Dark Sky Discovery Center broke ground on its new observatory in Fountain Hills, Arizona, in sync with the solar eclipse on April 8. The new observatory was designed by SWABACK Architects + Planners and is being built by McCarthy Building Companies.

The $25 million, 23,000-square-foot facility will encompass a 27.5-inch PlaneWave telescope, housed within its 20.5-foot domed observatory, along with a 65-seat planetarium. The center will also include a multipurpose auditorium with capacity for 150 guests, and a “Night Sky Experience” exhibit space equipped with interactive educational and historical components.

The center’s primary intent is to highlight the importance of a dark sky and the potentially harmful effects of light pollution. In addition to astronomy, the center will also educate visitors on how light pollution affects humans, plants, animals and other scientific processes.

The observatory will offer activities, educational opportunities and events for all ages, primarily serving the K-12 communities in Arizona. Funding for the Discovery Center has come through the efforts of the IDSDC Board, which is in the process of seeking an additional $8 million for signature naming rights of the entire center, as well as $2 million for rights to specific elements of the center such as the observatory, theater, and the Night Sky Experience exhibit hall.