2008 Woodie Awards
APSU observatory, telescope in sight
Kyle Nelson
Issue date: 7/11/07 Section: News
Austin Peay State University's new observatory has yet to break ground, but nearly everything is groundbreaking.
"At present we are waiting on my bank to give approval for the gift of the land. It is part of my home mortgage, and so they have to approve the transfer," said Spencer Buckner, professor of the physics and astronomy. Buckner made a land grant to APSU earlier this year for the observatory to be built on.
"We are all anxious to see construction start," Buckner said. "Once the facilities are completed, we have great plans for how to use it. Since it is practically in my backyard, I will be using it the most, and I am looking forward to it."
The observatory will house a 16-inch telescope and will cost $29,000, which was paid for by students' Technology Access Fee.
In all, the dome and adjacent building housing the new technology will cost some $526,000, according to Buckner.
The department had applied to the National Science Foundation for funding on a 32-inch telescope, which would have given APSU the biggest telescope in the state, but the grant proposal was not funded. However, Buckner said the department is going to re-apply for funding.
"One of the things researchers learn about getting funding from the NSF is: 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again'. It may take a re-submission or two but eventually we will get [funding]," Buckner said.
"Several universities in Tennessee have observatories," Buckner said. "ETSU has an observatory on campus that is about the same size as ours will be. Their telescope is smaller, though."
He also said Roane State Community College and Middle Tennessee State University have observatories, and Vanderbilt University also has an observatory with a 24-inch telescope.
There will be a classroom on-site that will host university classes at the new location.
Buckner said the introductory astronomy classes will visit the site five to six times per semester and the upper-level astronomy classes will most likely meet there once a week.
"We plan on having a public night at the observatory around the first quarter moon each month. In addition, special observing sessions for schools and organizations will be arranged on request," Buckner said.
Buckner added that after the groundbreaking, the construction should take no longer than three months.
"At present we are waiting on my bank to give approval for the gift of the land. It is part of my home mortgage, and so they have to approve the transfer," said Spencer Buckner, professor of the physics and astronomy. Buckner made a land grant to APSU earlier this year for the observatory to be built on.
"We are all anxious to see construction start," Buckner said. "Once the facilities are completed, we have great plans for how to use it. Since it is practically in my backyard, I will be using it the most, and I am looking forward to it."
The observatory will house a 16-inch telescope and will cost $29,000, which was paid for by students' Technology Access Fee.
In all, the dome and adjacent building housing the new technology will cost some $526,000, according to Buckner.
The department had applied to the National Science Foundation for funding on a 32-inch telescope, which would have given APSU the biggest telescope in the state, but the grant proposal was not funded. However, Buckner said the department is going to re-apply for funding.
"One of the things researchers learn about getting funding from the NSF is: 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again'. It may take a re-submission or two but eventually we will get [funding]," Buckner said.
"Several universities in Tennessee have observatories," Buckner said. "ETSU has an observatory on campus that is about the same size as ours will be. Their telescope is smaller, though."
He also said Roane State Community College and Middle Tennessee State University have observatories, and Vanderbilt University also has an observatory with a 24-inch telescope.
There will be a classroom on-site that will host university classes at the new location.
Buckner said the introductory astronomy classes will visit the site five to six times per semester and the upper-level astronomy classes will most likely meet there once a week.
"We plan on having a public night at the observatory around the first quarter moon each month. In addition, special observing sessions for schools and organizations will be arranged on request," Buckner said.
Buckner added that after the groundbreaking, the construction should take no longer than three months.
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