Modernizing the Michigan State University Observatory for Research, Education, and Outreach

摘要：密歇根州立大学校园天文台及其60厘米的博勒和奇文斯望远镜将进行翻新和现代化改造。这将使研究、教育和外联方面的项目得以扩大。这项研究将涉及本科生、研究生和本科生在每个阶段的暑期研究经历。研究将着重于脉动变星的长期光度测定研究。重新焕发活力的校园天文台将允许对这些恒星进行研究，这些研究需要数月甚至数年的观测时间，填补了许多其他设施难以企及的空白。翻新后的望远镜还将作为大学课程的一部分用于观测。天体物理学专业的学生和非科学专业的学生将以不同的方式使用望远镜。自1986年以来吸引了3万多名游客的公众宣传计划将继续下去。与艾布拉姆斯天文馆的合作将会扩大，艾布拉姆斯天文馆是密歇根州主要的天文学外展设施之一。与艾布拉姆斯天文馆的工作人员合作，PI和合作者将制作一个天文馆节目，旨在向学童展示天文台发生的事情。大约20%的研究时间将提供给天文学界的合格成员。该奖项由天文科学司和多学科活动办公室联合资助。

Proposal: AST-0440061Principal Investigator: Horace SmithInstitution: Michigan State UniversityTitle: Modernizing the Michigan State University Observatory for Research, Education, and OutreachABSTRACT:The Michigan State University campus observatory and its 60-cm Boller & Chivens telescope will be refurbished and modernized. This will enable an expansion of programs in research, education, and outreach. The research will involve undergraduate, graduate, and summer Research Experiences for Undergraduate students at every stage. Research will emphasize long-term photometric studies of pulsating variable stars. The revitalized campus observatory will allow the undertaking of studies of these stars that require months or even years of observing time, filling a niche not easily matched at many other facilities. The refurbished telescope will also be used for observing as part of college courses. Classes of astrophysics majors and classes of non-science majors will use the telescope in different ways. The program of public outreach that has attracted more than 30,000 visitors to the observatory since 1986 will be continued. The collaboration with Abrams Planetarium, one of the major astronomy outreach facilities in Michigan, will be expanded. In cooperation with the staff of Abrams Planetarium, the PI and collaborators will produce a planetarium program designed to show schoolchildren what goes on at an observatory. Approximately 20% of the research time will be made available to qualified members of the astronomical community.This award is being funded jointly by the Division of Astronomical Sciences and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities.