Hazardous Duty

Astronomical observatories often are surrounded by forests, which can create a fire hazard. In this view from 2011, for example, a fire encroaches on the telescopes of McDonald Observatory. Another fire threatened California's Lick Observatory in late 2020, and one burned several telescopes at Australia's Mount Stromlo Observatory in 2004. Earth's changing climate could make wildfires more common, posing a greater threat to astronomy. [Frank Cianciolo/McDonald Observatory]