Tobacco Trail Deep Space Listening Station

35.990394, -78.906566

Morehead Avenue
Durham
NC
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Although word about the new SETI@trailside (credit:Nico) installment at the head of the American Tobacco Trail has already made its way around listservs and websites, I couldn't resist putting up a picture of this inordinately silly place for a set of large satellite dishes - at the gateway to the scenic ATT.

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Although word about the new SETI@trailside (credit:Nico) installment at the head of the American Tobacco Trail has already made its way around listservs and websites, I couldn't resist putting up a picture of this inordinately silly place for a set of large satellite dishes - at the gateway to the scenic ATT.

While several sources have said to me that these Fox dishes were moved to make way for the new Diamond View buildlings, it remains unclear whether this is a temporary or permanent installation (although it's some serious hardware for a temporary install.) One would hope that they would be atop some buildings once those buildings are built.

If this is the permanent location, someone needs to put down the pipe and take another look at what they've done, and its effect on the trail. If they think it isn't a big deal, might I suggest the lawn in the middle of American Tobacco as an alternative?

Kevin reports they are permanent. Unbelievable. It really isn't only the trail, but also the connection between north of the freeway and south of the freeway. As it was, because of American Tobacco and the trail, this is one of our best potential bridging points between the two sides. Putting this thing here does not help.

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Comments

Submitted by Phillip (nico) (not verified) on Sat, 8/25/2007 - 9:32pm

I think our best bet at this point is to turn this into a public art installation. Paint the bottoms of the dishes, install sculpture nearby, something to acknowledge the fact that all our eyes are now drawn to this collection of skyward pointed ears.

Maybe a half-underground sculpture of a "crashed" spacecraft. A pedal-powered one of course.

Submitted by Seth (not verified) on Sun, 8/26/2007 - 4:52am

Another option might be to see about a stand of fast-growth fir trees to make it almost vanish. Given the direction the dishes are pointing putting some trees along that fenceline wouldn't harm them and would at least make it look somewhat less of an eyesore.

Submitted by Phillip (not verified) on Sun, 8/26/2007 - 2:50pm

To plant a "nature band-aid" is to try and hide it -- hide it from plain sight.

I'd rather see something creative to acknowledge the fact that we all know it's there.

That is, if no one takes Gary up on the idea to move the dishes to rooftops or the American Tobacco lawn.

Submitted by Gary (not verified) on Mon, 8/27/2007 - 2:21am

Yeah, I don't think these things are going to be screen-able. I just can't get over the lack of any thought except get-the-dishes-up-as-cheaply-as-possible that went into this.

GK

Submitted by Michael Bacon (not verified) on Mon, 8/27/2007 - 3:42am

If Capital Broadcasting would agree to pay for some local sculptor to design and Liberty Arts to cast figures of goofy looking aliens to put around them, I'd be happy with it.

And change out the fence that says nothing but "I exist only for insurance purposes."

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 8/27/2007 - 3:14pm

Ugghh. I tend to be on the pro-business end of things and even I think that is a ridiculous eyesore in a ridiculous location. Who made this decision? How is this use of this location a good idea from any standpoint?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 9/17/2007 - 3:01pm

At least the fence is green! =)

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