“We sincerely thank everyone who has brought us to this point. As we get ready to break ground, we are offering naming rights to this facility. It is a rare opportunity for donors or sponsors to put their name on this new chapter in Arizona history,””

Joe Bill, President Dark Sky Discovery Center

The International Dark Sky Discovery Center (IDSDC) planned for construction in Fountain Hills is nearing its goal of breaking ground on the facility this spring.

In preparing for the next big step for the project, the IDSC Board of Directors has issued a release announcing opportunities for those interested in naming rights sponsorships.

The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years from earth. The IDSDC has a fundraising goal of $25 million. Both are big numbers. That’s why the IDSDC board has set the amounts for key naming rights for what will be one of marquee facilities of its kind. It is a rare opportunity for those who want to add their names to this project.

The IDSDC board is seeking $8 million for signature naming rights for the entire center. Naming rights are also available for $2 million for specific elements of the center such as the observatory, theater and the “Night Sky Experience” exhibit hall.

The IDSDC board, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, has been raising funds for several years, ensuring the center’s future, so that Arizonans and visitors to the state can experience the wonders of dark skies, like viewing the Andromeda Galaxy. The fundraising is now in the home stretch.

The IDSDC has raised more than $18 million so far. Now the final push is on for donors ahead of the center’s groundbreaking this spring, according to the release.

Fountain Hills was the 17th community worldwide to have earned the prestigious designation of an International Dark Sky Community, a rare achievement so close to a metropolitan area.

The IDSDC is to break ground this spring on the 23,000-square-foot facility that will include a planetarium, an observatory, a theater, and “Night Sky Experience” exhibit hall so the entire state can experience the night sky, the solar system, and beyond. Individual donations are welcome at all levels.

Elements of International Dark Sky Discovery Center include:

*A first-class 20.5-foot domed observatory with a 27.5-inch PlaneWave telescope.

*A 65-seat, state-of-the-art planetarium utilizing immersive digital technology to deliver sharp laser images on the 39-foot diameter dome.

*A multi-use, 150-tiered-seat theater/auditorium/lecture hall.

*A 3,300-square-foot “Night Sky Experience” exhibit hall with interactive experiential displays designed to educate and inspire visitors of all ages.

“The International Dark Sky Discovery Center will not only be an extraordinary accomplishment for Fountain Hills, but also a major attraction worldwide and a focal point for knowledge, science and wonder,” said Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey.

“We sincerely thank everyone who has brought us to this point. As we get ready to break ground, we are offering naming rights to this facility. It is a rare opportunity for donors or sponsors to put their name on this new chapter in Arizona history,” said IDSDC board President Joe Bill.

In addition to working with K-12 educators, the IDSDC will also serve as a resource at the college and university level. There are no observatories with large, research grade telescopes in the Greater Phoenix area. Students at Arizona State University and the Maricopa County Community colleges could have the opportunity to learn how to use a large telescope, conduct research and attend classes and lectures.

“Arizona State University looks forward to developing a collaborative relationship with the International Dark Sky Discovery Center,” said Dr. Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University.

A significant objective of the IDSDC is to convey the importance of preserving dark skies. Today, 80% of people can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live. Light pollution is having a terrible impact on the environment, safety, wildlife, and human health. Visit darkskycenter.org for more information.