Modern Observatory Facilities for a New Program in Astrophysics

天体物理学新项目的现代化天文台设施

• 批准号: 9751310
• 负责人: Kimberley Venn
• 金额: $ 5.79万
• 依托单位: Macalester College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-06-01 至 2000-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9751310&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Modern; Observatory; Facilities; New; Program

The new program in astronomy and astrophysics includes new courses, faculty, an observatory dome, and an astronomy laboratory in the newly renovated science buildings. For the first time, an advanced course on astrophysics and an introductory astronomy laboratory are being offered. In these courses, students are gaining experience in astronomical techniques, ranging from simple exercises to advanced experiments. The success of the new astronomy program strongly depends on the quality of the projects that can be offered, which subsequently depend on the quality of instrumentation available. The combination of a DFM 16'' f/8 Cassegrain telescope, SBIG ST-8 CCD imaging camera, high-resolution spectrograph, modern computer controls and operating systems, and data analysis software are making it possible for students to gain experience previously available only to students in large astronomy departments. The DFM telescope has been specifically chosen for the observatory because it gives flexibility for instrumentation choices. It is designed and installed for immediate maximum performance in pointing, guiding, and focusing, guaranteed for workmanship, and comes with remote observing equipment and a simple, user-friendly operating system. Furthermore, the 16" telescope is ideal for an urban location, since it has good light gathering capabilities for observing both bright and faint objects. Sky brightness can also be subtracted in CCD exposures. With a good CCD camera and high-resolution spectrograph, the department can provide a very wide range of introductory exercises and advanced experiments in astronomy, as well as independent research projects for the advanced students. These observatory facilities also support projects and exercises in planetary geology, physical chemistry, electronics, and optics.

天文学和天体物理学的新计划包括新课程，教师，天文台圆顶和新装修的科学建筑中的天文学实验室。 首次开设了天体物理学高级课程和天文学入门实验室。 在这些课程中，学生们获得了天文技术的经验，从简单的练习到先进的实验。 新天文学计划的成功在很大程度上取决于可以提供的项目的质量，而项目的质量又取决于可用仪器的质量。 DFM 16“f/8卡塞格伦望远镜，SBIG ST-8 CCD成像相机，高分辨率摄谱仪，现代计算机控制和操作系统以及数据分析软件的组合使学生能够获得以前只有大型天文学系的学生才能获得的经验。 DFM望远镜被特别选择用于天文台，因为它提供了仪器选择的灵活性。 它的设计和安装是为了在指向，引导和聚焦方面立即获得最大性能，保证工艺，并配备远程观察设备和简单，用户友好的操作系统。 此外，16”望远镜是城市位置的理想选择，因为它具有良好的聚光能力，可以观察明亮和暗淡的物体。 天空亮度也可以在CCD曝光中减去。 凭借良好的CCD相机和高分辨率光谱仪，该部门可以提供非常广泛的介绍性练习和天文学高级实验，以及为高级学生提供独立的研究项目。 这些观测设施还支持行星地质学、物理化学、电子学和光学方面的项目和练习。