BBC visits OSU observatory
Thursday, May 7, 2009
For one program segment, Dr. Cox describes Saturn's rings and moons as their images
are projected onto the dome. During their stay, the crew videotaped all aspects of
the observatory in action, including observations of Saturn. Click to view more photos.
The observatory, which is located in southwest Stillwater, houses the largest and most technically advanced telescope in the state. While in Stillwater, the crew videotaped all aspects of the observatory in action, including the telescope’s observations of the rings and moons of Saturn.
“We were thrilled to have them here,” said Peter Shull, associate professor of physics and director of the observatory. “The crew is making their way around the world shooting video for this and other series, and we were glad the Oklahoma weather cooperated to provide some great shots for the program.”
The modern, research telescope housed at the observatory was funded by a $231,000 grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and was installed in 2007. In addition to providing shots of planets, the telescope allows students to track asteroids that threaten to collide with Earth and to measure the changing brightness of objects whose light output varies with time, such as stars with planets following edge-on orbits. The telescope’s manufacturer is expected to do maintenance this summer to have the telescope ready for undergraduate research in the fall.
“This instrument is the best research telescope in the state,” Shull said. “Once everything is up and running as it should, the telescope will be an invaluable tool in attracting physics students to OSU and preparing them for a career in astronomy.”