Can I reserve the telescope to look at my favourite object?
No. There are several reasons. One is that the DDO is a research institution, and observing time is allocated only to scientific projects. Second, even if an observing proposal were submitted, the telescope is not designed for imaging. It is designed for spectroscopy. However, there is an eyepiece that can be put in place for viewing that is used for public tours, but the objects viewed are selected carefully based on their appearance in the telescope. Most celestial objects are better viewed in smaller telescopes, in darker skies, and sometimes with some sort of filter attached to enhance the contrast. 5. Are tours given outside of the advertised times? No. Research and public education are given equal priority at the DDO, and therefore time is allotted nearly every week of the year for outreach. Outside of these times the staff is busy maintaining the telescope, buildings, computers, and their own research. In a publish-or-perish academic climate, public outreach can only be supporte
