The Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO),
located on the Prescott Peninsula at the Quabbin Reservoir, has been decommissioned. The structure, owned by UMass Amherst and the Five College Exchange, had been a local fixture since 1969 with hundreds of scientists trekking out to the facility in every season. Its dome was a noticeable image from airplanes and has conjured up all sorts of stories over the years. Since the development of more modern technology the functions of the observatory have largely been replaced by other facilities and web-based tools. Re-grading of the site is underway, and UMass will plant 20 sugar maples on the site this fall.