This page is currently under construction. The Astronomy Program at Franklin and Marshall College has developed a new facility for undergraduate astronomy. The Astronomical Imaging Laboratory allows students taking introductory astronomy courses to work with computer controlled telescopes and CCD cameras to record and process images of celestial objects. Cables in conduit under the floor connect the telescopes with six Gateway GP6-233 computers. The telescopes can be operated in three modes.
Students can begin learning about telescopes by moving and pointing the telescopes manually.
The telescopes can also be controlled using the computer built into the telescope base with commands entered through the hand paddle. Finally, the telescopes can be controlled from the computers inside the lab. Each telescope is equipped with an ST7 CCD camera with a 5 position filter wheel. Sub-floor cables connect the CCD cameras to the Gateway computers, where students can operate the cameras and telescopes, record images, and enhance and measure images. Software on the Gateway computers includes The Sky, a planetarium program that allows students to point the telescopes and CCDSoft, a camera control program that controls the camera and permits analysis and measurements from images.