ELY, Nev. (AP) — Great Basin National Park has met its fundraising goal to build a telescope and observatory.

The Ely Times reports the national park's foundation surpassed its fundraising goal of $480,000 to purchase and build a research-grade PlaneWave CDK700 28-inch Observatory Telescope System. Once completed, it will be the first such telescope in a national park.

The project is a partnership between the University of Nevada, Western Nevada College, Great Basin National Park, Great Basin National Park Foundation, Southern Utah University and Concordia University in Irvine, California.

Park officials hope to have the telescope operational in time for the National Park Service's 100th anniversary celebration on Aug. 25.