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Astronomy at the Crossroads |
"Previous
research? Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data? To my knowledge,
nobody’s done this," the visiting professor explains. "In fact, if you
find a pattern in spectra from the Seyfert galaxies, I’d be interested
in your findings and so would a lot of other scientists.
"The youngest participant is fourteen. The oldest is in his seventies.
At this astronomy workshop, students, teachers, amateur astronomers,
and professors have come together to design authentic research projects
using cutting edge technology.
The instructors explain the uses of spectroscopy--how various
quantities of each color of light reveal temperature, velocity, and
composition of stars and deep space objects. Teams of workshop
participants pore over the graphs pulled off the Internet.
At Crossroads, the young and the old come together to learn together.
This is not a case of adults lecturing to youth. Each participant
brings strengths to the lab table. Young people are comfortable and
competent with computers and graphing calculators. Teachers explain
concepts. Astronomers share knowledge and experience regarding deep
space. All can and do learn from one another. And the questions they
are asking don’t have answers "in the back of the book."
"You mean, we might discover something that nobody, anywhere has ever
found before? And we’d publish our findings?" Yes, that is science and
it’s happening at the Crossroads. |
Currently:
- Maintains the Leif
Everson Observatory
- Sponsors Public
Viewing Nights
- Hosts school groups
- Maintains the
Planetarium
- Assists with
advanced middle and high school astronomy instruction
- Operates a weather
station
- Interprets the
sundial
- Utilizes the
StarGarden
- Offers adult
education classes
- Provides speakers
for state parks and other organizations
- Mentors gifted high
school students
- Offers
astronomy/technology workshops
- Publishes The Blue
Moon Observer and www.doorastronomy.org
Plans to:
- Build and operate a
radio telescope
- Host a regional
convention
- Establish a fiber
optic connection between the observatory and the Collins Learning Center
- Link with other
observatories
- Develop programs for
families
- Offer a summer
astronomy academy
- Sponsor authentic
research projects
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About the StarGarden
Several years ago, Jodi
Brey, former Outreach Director for the Peninsula
Art School, went
up to the Leif Everson Observatory to observe the annual Leonids
shower. The night was cool and damp (as these nights tend to be) and
she and the others were thoroughly chilled after lying on the ground
watching the celestial fireworks. But, the idea of the StarGarden was
born. One year later a marvelous piece of public art came into being
made possible in part by funding from the National Endowement for the
Arts and by additional contributions of time, resources, and energy
from numerous individuals and local businesses. |
The Leif
Everson Observatory
Join the members of the Door
Peninsula Astronomical Society in
viewing the heavens from the Leif Everson Observatory and the
Stargarden. Use the Utah Street entrance to Crossroads. If you arrive
after dark, please turn off your headlight before approaching the
building. |
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