Simon Fraser University plans to construct an astronomical observatory on its Burnaby Mountain campus.

The $4-million, 458-square-metre observatory and science outreach centre will house a reflector telescope with a diameter of 0.7 metres under an eight-metre-diameter dome.

The facility will be erected next to the Diamond Alumni Centre, and will feature a viewing plaza with sundials, so astronomy enthusiasts can set up their own telescopes next to it.

SFU's physics department will offer an introductory astronomy course and an advanced astrophysics class on the site.

An SFU press release issued today (July 26) asserts the observatory will “rival Vancouver’s H.R. MacMillan Planetarium in terms of scientific community outreach”.

The observatory will give “equal weight” to undergraduate teaching and community outreach, according to the release.

A private donor has contributed $2 million toward the project, but the university still needs to raise the rest.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.