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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
Last year, Jodi Brey, the 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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