For April 2000 April was a busy month at the observatory and the project reached several major milestones. On the construction front, volunteer work crews made substantial progress closing in the transition area between mama and baby bear. The inside half of the translucent panels are in place, lending a finished look to the northern end of the observatory.
Installation is now underway for the outside half of the panels.
Lighting is also now installed in mama bear. The news regarding the roll-off roof is less positive. Analysis of the problems with the roll-off roof resulted in two key findings. First, the wheels upon which the roof rolls do not meet the original specifications given the supplier. As a result, the weight of the roof deforms the wheels, creating a flat spot which prevents the roof from rolling.