Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jun 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002aas...200.9002b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, 200th AAS Meeting, #90.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 34, p.952
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
With support from the National Science Foundation, the American Astronomical Society Small Research Grant Program, and the Wheaton College Mars Student/Faculty Research Collaboration Program, we are developing an observatory facility that allows all introductory astronomy students to make observations using computer-controlled telescopes. Our observing deck currently houses seven 12-inch LX-200 computerized telescopes, a Celestron 14 on a DFM Engineering Mount, and an 18-inch "Centurion" imaging telescope with filter wheel and SBIG ST-8E CCD camera. Each 12-inch telescope is also equipped with a flipmirror and SBIG filter wheel, AO, and ST-8E camera. In the near future, we expect to have an Archimage satellite-tracking telescope and a 16-inch LX-200 with an SBIG imaging spectrometer. The 12-inch telescopes are used visually in every astronomy course, and well over a thousand students have had the experience of being able to control their own telescope and explore the universe at their own pace. The telescopes can also be controlled from a computer room downstairs in the Science Center, and a number of advanced students have become experts in digital imaging. In the near future, all students in all astronomy courses will do digital imaging, as well as mini research projects. This facility has led naturally into student-faculty research, and we are beginning programs on NEO discovery and characterization, gamma ray burster photometry, supernova discovery and spectroscopy, extra-solar planet eclipse photometry, and KBO discovery. Within the next few years, we hope to do remote imaging using a Centurion telescope in Australia, and we are looking for collaborators there. Our ultimate goal is for students and faculty alike to move seamlessly between the worlds of education and research.
Agan L.
Barker Terrance
Eberhart J.
Hesser S.
Zawasky S.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Wheaton College Observatory: Integration of Education and Research does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Wheaton College Observatory: Integration of Education and Research, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Wheaton College Observatory: Integration of Education and Research will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1893207