Astronomy

requarth observatory

aurora borealis timelapsePublic Observation Nights

 

Each semester, Millikin hosts Public Observation Nights in the Requarth Observatory every Wednesday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. when there are clear skies and while the weather is warm (early September鈥揺arly November in the fall and March to semester鈥檚 end in mid-May in the Spring).

Click here for more info

 

  • Millikin Astronomy

    Millikin offers a variety of pathways for physics and astronomy students to explore the night skies with some of the best equipment in the state: a 20" telescope in the Requarth Observatory and six 8" telescopes. These pathways include 1) astronomy labs, which are taught by a professional astronomer, 2) participating as either a spectator or volunteer (after training) at our Public Observation Nights, and/or via 3) independent studies or research projects.

    Dan Miller (emeritus Prof. of Mathematics) and me in the Requarth Observatory.

     

  • Making the Stars Accessible

    The Requarth Observatory was built in 2000. There are three 300-pound support sections that hold the 20-foot telescope and each support had to be carried up six flights of stairs by hand. It was only after the telescope was installed that the freight elevator became operational.

    Faculty and students are continually updating the observatory to meet their scientific needs and there are currently many plans to enhance the stargazing experience for faculty, students, and visitors.

    telescope in requarth observatory

     

    In addition to the main telescope, the Leighty Tabor Science Building also features an observation deck on the fifth floor that surrounds the base of the dome. This observation deck provides the perfect platform to set up the smaller 8-foot telescopes that are commonly used in introductory astronomy classes. Even with a 鈥渟mall鈥 telescope, it is still easy to observe the rings of Saturn.

  • Telescopes at听Millikin

    Parallax Instruments 20"听Ritchey-Chr茅tien

    Model No.PI500R, 20"
    Clear Aperture508mm
    Focal RatioF/8.1
    Focal Length4114mm
    Primary & Secondary Mirror SubstrateZero Expansion听Astrositall
    Telescope TubeLow Expansion Carbon Fiber
    Secondary Amplification2.70X
    Spacing (Approx.)40"
    Mirror CoatingsAlSiO
    Optical Tube听Dia.24"
    Optical Tube Length56"
    Optical Tube Weight130lbs.
    Focuser2.7"
    Finder Scope7X50
    Tube RingsStandard
    Primary Cooling FanStandard (Quantity 3)
    Slewing HandleStandard
    罢耻产别听颁'飞迟听叠补谤听础蝉蝉测.Standard (Quantity 2)

    听

    Meade LX 200 8"听Schmidt-Cassegrain

    f6.310
    Focal Length1280mm2000mm
    Aperture203mm203mm
    Secondary88mm76mm
    Obstruction43%37%
    TypeSCTSCT

    听

    DriveFully computer controlled; 64359 object library; automatic GO TO capability
    AltazYes
    PolarYes with optional wedge
    Eyepiece26mm听Plossl
    Finder8x50
    RS232Yes
    Power18v DC (AC adapter included)
    Weight41lbs41lbs
    TripodStandard

    听

    Cameras at听Millikin

    ST-7XME

    CCDKodak KAF-0402ME + TI TC-237
    Pixel Array765 x 510 pixels, 6.9 x 4.6 mm
    Total Pixels390,000
    Pixel Size9 x 9 microns
    Full Well听Capactiy听(ABG)~50,000 e-
    Full Well听Capactiy听(NABG)~100,000 e-
    Dark Current1e-/pixel/sec at 0C
    AntibloomingKAF-0402ME is听NABG听only听ABG听optional (KAF-0402LE)
    ShutterElectromechanical
    Exposure0.11 to 36000 seconds, 10ms resolution
    Correlated Double SamplingYes
    A/D Converter16 bits
    A/D Gain2.6e-/ADU
    Read Noise15e-RMS
    Binning Modes1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3
    Pixel Digitization RateUp to 420,000 pixels per second
    Full Frame Acquisition~35 seconds
    Field of View12 x 8听arcminutes听on f/10 Meade LX 200
    Pixel Size.9 x .9听arcseconds听on f/10 Meade LX 200
    Limiting MagnitudeMagnitude 14 in 1 second
    (for 3听arcsec听FWHM听stars)Magnitude 18 in 1 minute
    Cooling - standardSingle Stage Thermoelectric, Active Fan, Water Assist Ready -45 C from Ambient Typical
    Temperature Regulation+-0.1 C
    Power5听VDC听at 1.5 amps, +-12听VDC听at 0.5 amp desktop power supply included
    Computer InterfaceParallel
    Computer CompatibilityWindows 98/2000/Me/NT/XP
    GuidingDual听CCD听Self-Guiding

    听

    STL-1001E

    Imaging听CCDKodak Enhanced KAF-1001E
    Pixel Array1024 x 1024 pixels, 24.6 x 24.6 mm
    Total Pixels1.0 million
    Pixel Size24 x 24 microns
    Full Well Capacity (NAGB)200,000 e-
    Dark听Curent9 e-/pixel/second at 0 degrees C
    AntibloomingNAGB听only
    ShutterElectromechanical
    Exposure0.12 to 3600 seconds, 10 ms resolution
    Correlated Double SamplingYes
    A/D Converter16 bits
    A/D Gain2.0e-/ADU
    Read Noise14.8e-RMS
    Binning Modes1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3
    Full Frame Download40.8 seconds
    Cooling - standardTwo-Stage Thermoelectric, Water Assist, -40 C from Ambient Typical
    Temperature Regulation+-0.1 degrees C
    Power10-18VDC, 12VDC nominal, Universal AC to 12VDC desktop supply
    Computer InterfaceParallel
    Computer CompatibilityWIndows听98/NT/2000/Me/XP/Mac OS-X
    GuidingDual听CCD听Self-Guiding Standard,

    听

    SGS-Self听Guided Spectrograph

    Dispersion:听

    Two gratings available, on a carousel for rapid听selction

    150 lines per mm (4.3 Angstroms per pixel)

    600 lines per mm (1.0 Angstroms per pixel)

    		听
    Slit Width100 microns wide Entrance Slit
    Accptance听cone angle:F/6.3 by F/10
    Resolution:听
    Narrow slit & 600 lines/mm2.4 Angstroms
    Narrow slit & 150 lines/mm10 Angstroms
    Wide slit & 600 lines/mm10 Angstroms
    Wide slit & 150 lines/mm38 Angstroms
    Relative Sensitivity to Diffuse Sources:听
    Narrow slit & 600 lines/mm1.0
    Narrow slit & 150 lines/mm4.0
    Wide slit & 600 lines/mm4.0
    Wide slit & 150/mm16.0
    Dispersion:1.07 or 4.3 Angstroms per pixel
    ResolutionEmission line is recorded with 2.4, 10 or 38 Angstroms Full Width at Half Maximum
    Spectral coverage per frameAbout 750 Angstroms with the high resolution grating, or 32000 with the low resolution grating
    Center Wavelength SelectionCalibrated Micrometer Adjustment
    Wavelenght听Range3800 to 7500 Angstroms
    SensitivitySignal to noise ration of 10:1 for a 9th mag star, 20 minute exposure using a听non-AGB听ST-7 and a 10 inch (25 cm)听apertaur听in high resolution mode. An听ABG听ST-7 will reach magnitude 8. The low resolution mode will be 1.5 magnitudes more sensitive.
    Entrance Slit18 micron (2.3听arcseconds听wide with 63 inch focal length telescope or 72 microns
    Uses:

    Stellar Classification

    Analysis of Nebular Lines

    Indentification听of spectroscopic binaries

    Measurement of Stellar proper motion to +/- 6km/sec accuracy

    Measurement of Emission Nebula Proper Motions

    Spectra of Laboratory and field sources

  • External Links

    Professional Organizations听


    		The听offical听site for听AAPT

    		The听offical听site for听AAS
    The听offical听site for听APS
    The听offical听site for听SPS
    Physics and General Science听
    The latest news in physics
    Science news that is only a
    click away
    A new photo each day with
    an explanation by a
    professional astronomer
    Locations and Facilities听
    A system听of Radio
    Telescopes world-wide
    Software, Hardware, and Maps听
    听A free online site which
    provides detailed star
    charts up to 7th magnitude
    objects
    A free open source
    planetarium for your
    computer
    Astro-camera, computer
    software, and instructions
    on how to use both
    Software which is helpful
    both all levels of
    astronomers