Observatory status up in the air

The suspension comes amid the unexplained apparent absence of longtime Observatory Administrator Troy Carpenter, who has been closely identified with the facility and its public astronomy programs.

The Sentinel attempted to contact Carpenter Aug. 28 after learning that the Observatory website was reporting programs closed because of staffing issues. The newspaper asked Carpenter what was happening, noting that the closure was already having an impact locally: a person who operates a short-term rental in Goldendale reported cancellations from guests who had planned to visit the Observatory.

Carpenter did not respond.

The Sentinel sent a second request Aug. 31, this time copying Jill Sprance-Carr, Washington State Parks manager for the region.

Sprance-Carr responded that solar and evening programs had been canceled “for the time being due to staffing issues.” She said the Observatory campus remained open for self-guided exploration from 6:30 a.m. to dusk daily and referred the Sentinel to the State Parks website for updates.

The Sentinel responded that the information was already available on the website and asked for details about what was actually happening at the Observatory.

Sprance-Carr’s subsequent response shed somewhat more light on the situation, although it stopped short of explaining the apparent staffing change.

“We’ve temporarily paused solar and evening programming at the Goldendale Observatory because the telescope is a complicated piece of equipment that requires specialized training to operate,” she wrote.

“Unfortunately, that means we can’t have other rangers fill-in when we have vacancies or trained staff are unavailable,” Sprance-Carr continued. “We still invite visitors to come for self-guided tours and look forward to offering programming again as soon as we’re able.”

Her reference to “vacancies” raises an obvious question concerning Carpenter, who has served as the Observatory’s administrator for more than a decade and is trained to operate its telescope.

State Parks has not told the Sentinel whether Carpenter resigned, was dismissed, was transferred, is on leave, or remains employed by the agency in some other capacity. Nor has the agency provided a timetable for restoration of the Observatory’s public programs.

Personnel matters generally are subject to restrictions on what government agencies will disclose about individual employees. The Sentinel has received no explanation from Carpenter concerning his status.

For now, the practical result is clear even if the circumstances behind it are not: Goldendale’s internationally known Observatory remains open to visitors, but its centerpiece public programming has stopped.

State Parks says it intends to resume programming when it is able to do so.

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This story was originally published by The Goldendale Sentinel on Sept. 9 and is reprinted here with permission.