This report, the Department's twenty-third, covers the period September 1998 through August 1999. Spear remained on leave to SSU's Information Technology department, Greene continued his partial retirement, teaching only in the fall semester, and Dunning was on sabbatical during the spring semester. A total of 420 students took Descriptive Astronomy , Introductory Observational Astronomy , Extraterrestrial Intelligence and Interstellar Travel , Frontiers in Astronomy , Cosmology , and Special Studies. The Department awarded 3 B.A. degrees in physics. There were 36 physics majors in Spring 1999.
Newtonian telescope is computer-controlled.
The system points reliably to within 1-2 arcminutes on the sky. Reliable photometry is feasible for objects as faint as 16th magnitude. The optical observatory was used 18 times for public viewing nights and classes. There were over 200 visitors. What Physicists Do public lecture series, under the direction of Cominsky and Tenn, for the 56th and 57th semesters.