AAS 197, January 2001
Session 87. Innovations in Teaching Astronomy II
Joint Display, Wednesday, January 10, 2001, 9:30am-7:00pm, Exhibit Hall

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[87.13] Reaching towards 20th Magnitude from a Central Campus Observatory

D.T. Durig (The University of the South)

Using a commercially available 20 cm SCT telescope and CCD camera I have been able to image objects approaching 20th magnitude from the Cordell-Lorenz Observatory, a rooftop observatory located on the central quadrangle of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. I have discovered several asteroids, tracked recent NEO discoveries, identified some of these objects as new comets, and obtained images of GRB 000926. By using commercially available Adaptive Optics with guide rates from 5 to 40 Hz and a CCD/F.L. combination to produce a pixel resolution of 2.11 arc sec, astrometry has been performed with a positional uncertainty of 0.3 arc sec. I use my equipment for laboratory exercises and class observing projects so students are involved in most of these activities. I have recently added online capabilities to my telescope systems.


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