Eric Klumpe

eklumpe@mtsu.edu

Robert Carlton

Physics & Astronomy

Discipline specific equipment

WPS 212

N/A

N/A

Preparing for a move to long-awaited new space, we request funds for a specialized solar telescope which will bring the Sun into our laboratory for undergraduate studies in astronomy. This will complement our new naked-eye observatory, enriching the observational experiences of our students, and moving them from making measurements on static Internet images of the Sun to measuring a live 3-foot-diameter image on a wall in the laboratory. This will enable observation and recording of sunspot activity each time in lab. We teach introductory astronomy to more than 700 students/year. This course covers topics ranging from planets, asteroids, and stars up to galaxies, quasars, and cosmology and fulfills a General Studies requirement. The pedagogical approach this addition will enable is consistent with the teaching philosophy of our department where we believe that students need to learn proper laboratory techniques in addition to learning scientific principles, all in a ‘cool’ setting. We propose designing and installing a specialized solar telescope that will ‘pipe’ the sun into the laboratory where students will study the Sun directly in a safe manner and use live images in their calculations that are directed toward an understanding the dynamics of the closest star to the Earth.