Issue date: 2/3/05 Section: TruLife

Media Credit: Roger Meissen This is the main telescope in the University Observatory. The telescope and other observatory resources are available for student astronomy research.

Senior Sarah Babcock's astrophotography goal is to capture a star nursery on film.

For those not as familiar with astronomy, a star nursery is another name for a nebula, Babcock said.

"It's just a big cloud of gases and dust where stars are formed," she said. "They sometimes call them star nurseries."

While doing astronomy research at the University Observatory, Babcock has viewed nebulas and other features of the universe.

"The next thing after nebulas I thought were really neat were Jupiter and Saturn," she said. "You can see Saturn's rings, and you can see the different colored belts on Jupiter and Jupiter's moons and the Milky Way."

The winter sky offers some special treats to stargazers, including visibility of both Jupiter and Saturn in the evening at this time of year, said Matthew Beaky, assistant professor of physics.

"Through the telescope they look great," Beaky said. "You can see details. You can see Saturn's rings very clearly, and you can see the clouds on Jupiter and moons of Jupiter."

The comet Maccholz is also visible with a telescope this time of year.

"It's probably just too faint to see with the naked eye, but it's easily visible with a telescope," Beaky said.

The rural setting of the observatory also improves visibility because it offers less light interruption, Beaky said.

The observatory encompasses two buildings: an aluminum structure that contains the main telescope and a building with an equipment room including a computer, cameras and smaller telescopes.

The University Observatory is available for any student interested in astronomy research, Beaky said. Beaky assists Babcock and other students who take advantage of the observatory.

Students in Beaky's astronomy class also use the observatory, and the science division hosts open houses where anyone can combine the resources of the rural sky and the observatory.

The first open house of the year is from 8 to 10 p.m. tonight at the observatory, if clear weather is forecasted.

Beaky said amateurs are welcome at the open houses. Experienced astronomers will be on hand to assist with telescope viewing.

Students interested in astronomy will have one more astronomical outlet as soon as the Magruder Hall construction is finished.

What is now the circular skeleton of an edifice will be a planetarium when completed, said Scott Ellis, head of the science division. Ellis said the planetarium will be a new way for students to learn. Once the University has the funds to purchase the projection equipment, still and moving images of the Universe can be projected on the dome ceiling. He said students will be able to recline in chairs and watch the presentations, which can include sounds, narrations or explosions.

Ellis said the University might not have the projection equipment for several more years.

"Right now the construction budget and the donations that we've received are only enough to allow us to build the shell of the structure," he said.

Babcock said she hopes the new planetarium will spark more interest in astronomy.

"Maybe it'll make people more aware of [astronomy]," she said. "I don't know that many people know much about it, other than the ones that take the astronomy class or, like me, have an interest in it and search it out."

For now, students can see the live night sky from the observatory tonight.

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