Why help the observatory? We are largely run by volunteers and donations, help us pay our undergrads, and do awesome things like:
- Continue Free tours
- Create Awesome Swag
- Refurbish the 40cm
- Repair the atrium
- Refit the 60cm!
- Paid Student Research
- Open Research Projects
- Free events for local schools/groups
- Free giveaways!
- Special Events!
Welcome to the AICO Fundraising area. Help us to raise funds to continue outreach, research, special events, and more! For sponsorship opportunities or corporate training events email our director at eahyde @ yourku dot ca. Since we were very close to our first goal of 5k CAD with the last event, you can still donate to top up or help us reach some of our 'stretch goals', like a new cover for the 40cm telescope! See below for the recent fundraising event over the new year, and scroll down for all of our exciting observatory goals!
Special Fundraiser Info for Nov 2024 - Jan 5 2025 Fundraiser
WINNER CHOSEN! Private Observing!
SUPPORTED OBSERVATION RAFFLE! Win a supported (we will help you!) observing evening with the AICO crew. The data will be your own! Contest runs Nov 25 - Jan 5. One winner will be chosen for every goal we hit!
WINNER CHOSEN! Private Tour!
PRIVATE TOUR RAFFLE! Win a private tour for you and up to 5 friends. A private in-domes tour! Contest runs Nov 25 - Jan 5. One winner will be chosen for every goal we hit!
WINNER CHOSEN! Awesome Swag!
Observatory Fundraising Goals, and Stretch-Goals!
Funds Raised So far (including fundraiser!)
Our Fundraising Goals:
$5,000 CAD: We will be able to finish the regular April 2025 free Wednesday tours and offer 4 new free public tours for school groups or similar. At this level, we'll also print out 400 new observatory bookmarks to be given out for free at our weekly events!
$10,000 CAD: At this exciting level we can do a partial renovation of our atrium facility atop the arboretum parking garage and continue tours into Summer 2025. Several of our smaller telescopes are in need of finder scope alignment, light cleaning, and of course, we could do with some shelves! This goal will cover all the light repairs and introduce a Free online Observatory Event on YouTube, covering YOUR choice of interactive astrophotography, exoplanets or more (survey TBA).
$20,000 CAD: A new all-weather protection for the 40cm telescope. At this level we will be able to buy a skyshed POD or similar, no more old tarp covering for our trusty outdoor scope.. the POD is a plastic dome covering that will ensure we can winter over without damage! This goal also allows us to increase Summer 2025 tours! In addition we'll be able to increase our cloud storage by paying the extra monthly fee and upload a FREE ONLINE GALLERY, making thousands of digital images publically available!
$30,000 CAD: A full atrium facility renovation is now possible! We'll be able to replace the broken 'Fireball' computer (and perhaps rename it!) as well as repair the temperature control, refurbish the smaller telescopes and even put up a new mount for one of the smaller Cassegrains. The prize at this level will be a special atrium tour event to celebrate, and 200 free astronomy posters will be given out!
$50,000 CAD+: Special unlock tier, this level will allow us to get to one of the more expensive items, recalibrate the 60cm telescope inside one of the main domes of the Allan I Carswell Observatory. We will also be able to PAY a full RAY position for summer 2025 to work with QUAIL and the 60cm. We will also be able to install a 'Flat Field Screen' and lamp for calibration on at least one of the two domes. That's right, RESEARCH! This tier will be accompanied with a free all day observatory event with a giveaway of 200 observatory zippable canvas tote bags (first come, first serve!).
