The Department of Geology and Astronomy maintains an astronomical observatory on the roof of the Schmucker Science Center. The main instrument is an 11.5 inch reflecting telescope that can be used in either the Newtonian or Cassegrain configuration. The auxiliary telescopes include a pair of four-inch refractors, one used to project solar images in white light and the other equipped with a hydrogen alpha solar filter. A five-inch Schmidt camera also can be mounted on the telescope assembly. The observatory also owns portable 8” and 14” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, CCD cameras, and a stellar spectrograph.The CM-1400 can be equipped with several eyepieces, an SBIG ST-7E CCD camera and an SBIG stellar spectrograph.
The telescope system can be used for basic observing, astrophotography, photometry, and spectroscopy. The observatory is used as an astronomical laboratory for astronomy courses and as a research area for independent study for junior- or senior-level research projects.
The Department of Geology and Astronomy also offer various public events featuring observatory and telescopic equippment for all to enjoy, including West Chester Universtiy's No Night without a Telescope event, celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. Visit the following link for more information. NNWT.
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