Instrumentation in Ely Hall includes petrographic microscopes for study of rock fabrics and mineralogy, an automated powder X-ray diffractometer for the study of crystal structures, and an clastic sedimentology laboratory for the analysis of sediment sizes and compositions. Analytical facilities are complemented by an energy dispersive spectrometer attached to the scanning electron microscope in Olmsted Hall. The department utilizes and maintains equipment for field studies, such as sediment sampling and stream gauging, and sediment and rock sample preparation. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is located in Sanders Physics Laboratory, which contains classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, computing facilities, and a research library. Instrumentation and computing facilities in Sanders supports faculty and student research in modern optics, geophysics, and astronomical image processing.
Some projects involve work at national laboratories and observatories.
Observatory, a new building on the edge of the campus. Both large telescopes are equipped with electronic CCD cameras and spectroscopes. The 32-inch is used primarily for student and faculty research on supernovae, variable stars, and the structure of galaxies. The 20-inch is reserved for instruction. The department is also a partner in two consortia.