Through the efforts of Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), Muhlenberg College has received a federal appropriation of $1.5 million to develop an innovative, three-year program to bring NASA data and new technologies directly to the classroom and laboratory for the improvement of the teaching of physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, environmental science, mathematics, and computer science.
Some of the funds have been used to install a 14-inch diameter, professional-grade optical telescope that is remotely controlled from campus, with the data and images relayed to campus via a satellite internet computer link. The robotically controlled telescope has been placed at a remote site in New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to Australia's National Observatory at Sliding Spring. This will give astronomy students on the main campus access to an important teaching and research tool that they otherwise would not have. |
The dome of the Muhlenberg College observatory with the dome of 154 inch Anglo-Australian telescope the background.
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2400 Chew St.