We built a fully functioning observatory and a hand built telescope so we could share the wonder of the cosmos with thousands of people. Our goal: to get people excited about science, space, and art. This presentation was given at Rochester Mini Maker Faire in Rochester, New York. November 2014.

1. Black Rock Observatory
Creating Large Scale Art Designed to Get People Excited About Science
A Project of the Desert Wizards of Mars

2. Desert Wizards of Mars

3. STEAM
Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Math

4. “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to
win glorious triumphs, even though
checkered by failure, than to take rank
with those poor spirits who neither enjoy
much nor suffer much, because they live
in the gray twilight that knows neither
victory nor defeat.”
-- Theodore Roosevelt

5. Empowering your crew

14. A 20" f4.5 Newtonian
telescope on a
Dobsonian mount.

19. Leadership: Letting everyone shine.

20. Sidenote: Do your research

23. People want to engage with science.

27. Fundraising and Promotion

28. Year 1:
105%

29. Year 2:
141%

30. http://vimeo.com/61597219
http://vimeo.com/98240014

31. http://www.blackrockobservatory.com/

32. http://makezine.com/2014/04/10/mars-rover-art-car/

34. Local Resources:
• Rochester Makerspace
• ImagineYou at Rochester Public Library

35. www.blackrockobservatory.com
www.facebook.com/blackrockobservatory
www.twitter.com/blackrockobserv