Public astronomical observing sessions are open to all
The Shattuck Observatory hosts twice-weekly astronomical observing sessions
during academic terms. (Photo by Joseph Mehling '69)
Robert Fesen
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Twice a week, stargazers gather at Shattuck
Observatory to observe the skies through the Department of Physics and Astronomy's
public astronomical observing program, which offers public access to some of
Dartmouth's telescopes. The sessions are held during academic terms on Friday
nights from 7 to 9 p.m., for observing the moon, planets, stars, and
neighboring galaxies, and on Sunday afternoons from noon to 2 p.m., for daytime
solar viewing of sunspots and prominences.
Robert
Fesen, professor of physics and astronomy, administers the public observing
program. "It is a way for both Dartmouth students and Upper Valley
residents to take a free tour of the skies and heavenly objects guided by a
physics and astronomy graduate student," he says.
Aaron Dotter, a
graduate student studying stellar evolution, has been involved with the program
since 2002. "It's as though I'm tour guide to the cosmos," he
explains. "I know what is visible when, and where to point the telescope
to see craters on the moon, planets, star clusters, and galaxies.
The observing sessions are regularly attended by Dartmouth students and
community members, and special astronomical events can draw crowds. Dotter
recalls that, "In 2003, people lined up at Shattuck Observatory for public
viewing sessions of Mars in its closest approach to Earth in recorded
history."
Judy Filkins, math and science coordinator for Lebanon elementary and middle
schools, recently accompanied a group of middle school students and parents to
the observatory for a special nighttime observing session. "Aaron does a
wonderful job presenting the historical information about Shattuck Observatory
and the science we see when looking through the telescopes," she says.
"It was an incredibly cold night, but everyone had a great time and none
of the students wanted to leave."
Built in 1854, Shattuck Observatory sits on a hill behind the Wilder physics
building and is the oldest scientific building on campus. Most often, the
astronomical observing sessions use an 8-inch reflector telescope in a small
building near the observatory. On occasion, however, the sessions are held
inside Shattuck Observatory, which houses a 134-year-old, 9.5-inch refractor
telescope.
"Up until the last half century, astronomers used refractor telescopes,
which use a glass lens to gather and focus light," explains Dotter.
"With advances in technology, reflector telescopes were developed to
collect and focus light using a mirror. The reflecting telescope next to the
Shattuck Observatory is just as strong as the large telescope inside the
observatory, but much smaller and easier to use."
For research purposes, Dartmouth also owns a share of the largest telescope
in the southern hemisphere, the 11-meter Southern African Large Telescope
(SALT), as well as the MDM Observatory, consisting of 1.4- and 2.3-meter
telescopes, on Kitt Peak in Arizona.
Parking for the Shattuck Observatory is located on Observatory Road, off
East Wheelock Street. Visit www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html
for a schedule and directions. Current information and directions are also
available by calling the astronomical observing information line at
646-9100.
by LAUREN LOTKO '06
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