A Modern Technology Telescope for Undergraduate Student Projects and Research

融合了许多先进技术的现代望远镜 将获得供本科物理学/天文学使用的功能 少校 这些学生将利用望远镜学习研究 观测天文学中的技术，除了获取 宝贵的原始科学数据。 学生将自己制作 观察，分析数据，并准备结果， 出版物 此外，他们将学习第一手的操作， 现代天文仪器 该望远镜将安装在阿巴拉契亚州立大学的 黑暗天空天文台，位于西北部的山区， 卡罗莱纳。 该望远镜将配备各种辅助设备， 目前存在的或将被收购的工具， 大学基金。 其中包括一个光度计来测量亮度 和CCD摄像机来获取恒星的图像， 星系类星体和彗星 光谱仪将用于获得 质量足以确定星星光谱的恒星光谱 类型（温度和尺寸）。 观察和仪器控制将从一个远程 温暖的房间，在现代研究天文台相同的风格。 学生还将探索远程控制的可能性。 通过电信从校园到天文台。 因此，较新的和 更大的望远镜不仅将取代过时的功能， 但它也将迈出一大步 进入下一代望远镜仪器。 受资助机构将NSF的奖金与同等金额的奖金相匹配 来自非联邦来源。

A modern telescope that incorporates many advanced technology features will be acquired for use by undergraduate physics/astronomy majors. These students will use the telescope to learn research techniques in observational astronomy, in addition to acquiring valuable original scientific data. Students will make their own observations, analyze the data, and prepare the results for publication. In addition, they will learn first-hand the operation of modern astronomical instrumentation. The telescope will be installed at Appalachian State University's Dark Sky Observatory, located in the mountains of western North Carolina. The telescope will be equipped with a variety of auxillary instruments, which exist presently or which will be acquired with university funds. These include a photometer to measure the brightness of variable stars and a CCD video camera to acquire images of stars, galaxies, quasars, and comets. A spectrograph will be used to obtain stellar spectra of sufficient quality to determine a star's spectral type (temperature and size). Observations and instrument control will be done remotely from a warm-room, in much the same style as modern research observatories. Students will also explore the possibility of remote control of the observatory from campus, via telecommunications. Thus, the newer and larger telescope will not only replace the function of the obsolete telescopes currently at the site, but it will also take a great step forward into the next generation of telescope instrumentation. The grantee institution is matching he NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.