Students and faculty at BYU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy understand the value of the stars, and they dedicate their livelihoods to uncovering the mysteries of a vast and vibrant universe.
Few students know about a critical element to this research: BYU’s West Mountain Observatory. Located on the towering peak between Benjamin and Utah Lake, the site packs powerful telescopes that help researchers see the skies with the utmost precision.
Research Professor Mike Joner has been spearheading research at the observatory for decades, and he regularly makes the drive up the mountain. A 20-minute ride up a steep, at times questionable, dirt road yields a breathtaking view of the water and the observatory site.
Inside the building, a small living room, sleeping quarters and dim red lighting to preserve night vision carry the vibe of a faraway outpost on the fringe of the explored world. A staircase leads to an upper floor, where the magic happens.
Joner led the way to the observing area — a large, dome-shaped room occupied only by the observatory’s centerpiece: the DFM Engineering 0.91-m f/5.5 Ritchey-Chrétien reflecting telescope.
Controlled by a computer in an adjacent room, the multi-mirrored machine can maneuver to pinpoint any location in the sky. The dome rotates in tandem, turning the entire room into a shifting structure.
All data the telescope receives is transmitted to the computer, where it can be mapped and objects studied with remarkable accuracy and ease. Joner remarked on the primitive methods used by astronomers like Edwin Hubble, explaining how modern technology is facilitating discovery.
“Times have changed,” he said. “Modern detectors and filters make it very different.”
The Ritchey-Chrétien telescope can capture highly detailed images, which are then studied on the observatory's computers. Several photos taken by the instrument can be viewed in the gallery below.
So why exactly do people gravitate towards the work done in observatories such as this? It has more meaning than looking at stunning stellar objects, though that is a major perk.
According to postdoctoral fellow William Black, it’s a sense of curiosity and a desire to push beyond what’s possible.
“If I could have any superpowers, it would either be time control or teleportation,” he said.
These concepts may sound far-fetched, but Black believes they’re not as intangible as many think.
Both deal with spacetime, a concept that Black says is “right on the edge of what we know.” A better understanding of the math behind spacetime, much of which is derived from studying the universe, could lead to amazing technological revolutions.
That said, it’s nearly impossible to make predictions about what future breakthroughs may yield. Discussing this, Black cited the old adage: “Those who follow crystal balls are doomed to walk on shattered glass.”
Looking ahead is one thing, but astronomers also love the field for what it can reveal about the past — even the beginning — of the universe.
At BYU, professors understand the connection between understanding the universe and understanding their Heavenly Father.
Professor Benjamin Boizelle dedicates his studies to several projects, most prominently the study of how black holes have evolved over time. Dedicating himself to uncovering these mysteries, one central truth has been impressed upon him.
“The thing that I generally take from my reading of the scriptures and my understanding of the science is how much care went into creating this universe for us,” he said.
When asked about his thoughts on how the universe was created, Boizelle clarified that such details remain unknown. Regardless, he said that the data overwhelmingly suggests things did not happen by chance.
“What I can say is that, based on what we understand, this universe could not have existed … (if) physical laws had even slightly different constants,” he said.
NGC 6543 Cat's Eye Nebula (West Mountain Observatory)
NGC 6946 Fireworks Galaxy
(West Mountain Observatory)
NGC 891 Silver Sliver Galaxy
(West Mountain Observatory)
NGC 2264 Cone Nebula
(West Mountain Observatory)
M 81 Bode's Galaxy (West Mountain Observatory)
BYU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy will continue working towards its mission “to assist individuals in developing their potential as scientific leaders, innovators, and disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Those interested in learning more about BYU Physics and Astronomy can visit its website for news, research details and more.