COSAM News Articles 2019 May Auburn Inspires Faculty with New Leach Science Center – Students Will Experience Astronomy in a Way that Was Not Possible Before

Auburn Inspires Faculty with New Leach Science Center – Students Will Experience Astronomy in a Way that Was Not Possible Before

Published: 05/28/2019

By: Maria Gebhardt

In just a week, the new Leach Science Center will hold its opening ceremony. Lecturer Melissa Halford will be able to use the new rooftop telescope terrace as a teaching tool.

“I’m looking forward to using the astronomy terrace to make astronomy labs more engaging for students,” Dr. Halford explained. “Previous lab activities allowed students to view astronomical objects by eye, but there was a genuine disconnect between the viewing and the analysis done in other lab sessions. The new telescopes and cameras on the astronomy terrace will allow students to record and analyze their own images as well as viewing by eye. Having telescopes permanently on the roof also means less time spent setting up and breaking down equipment, so more time on the sky.”

The new facility will become an incredible opportunity for sky watchers to gaze above.

“The astronomy classroom will be a great teaching tool,” Dr. Halford added. “Students will be able to control the telescopes using computers and look at their images as they come in. They'll experience astronomy as an observational science in a way that was not possible before at our university.”