Completing the Whately Telescope Upgrade for Undergraduate Infrared Astronomy

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Observational astronomy is both a science and an art. While the science can be taught in the classroom, real understanding of telescopes, detectors, and data acquisition requires hands on experience at an observatory. Most undergraduate students receive little direct exposure to observational astronomy with instrumentation and computing facilities comparable to those found at major observatories. Over the past two years the Five College Astronomy Department has been supporting an upgrade of a local 40cm Boller and Chivens reflector. The goal this project is to provide an environment for students which, in as many was as possible, simulates the key aspects of modern telescopic observing. The availability of state-of-the-art infrared instrumentation which has been installed on this small telescope not only provides undergraduates with invaluable laboratory experience but also enables them to carry out research projects competitive in both quality and significance to those performed at the largest telescope facilities. The department is continuing the upgrade by incorporating a low- light camera for remote source acquisition and guiding, upgrading the data acquisition computer to accomodate a new high data-rate detection system, and providing students with access to professional data reduction and analysis computing facilities. The consortium is matching the award with an equal amount of funds.//