Complex sentence: In 2012, the physics and astronomy department of San Francisco State University joined as an operator and user of the telescope, helping to refurbish and upgrade the camera and installing a remote observing station based in its frequently fog-laden San Francisco campus.
Split into simpler sentences: In 2012, the physics and astronomy department of San Francisco State University bought into the telescope. SF State also installed a remote observing station based in its frequently fog-laden San Francisco campus.