Edward Brown edited Lab.tex  about 9 years ago

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\subsubsection{Hands-on observing experience}  It is a long-standing tradition for AST 208 students to visit the MSU \href{http://www.pa.msu.edu/astro/observ/}{MSU  Campus Observatory Observatory}  for hands-on observing experience, and the redesigned AST 208 continues to uphold this tradition. Students come out to the observatory in their lab groups of 3--4 (at night, outside of scheduled class time), and use the CCD camera to obtain science-ready images with the help of an instructor. Every student is required to visit the Observatory at least once throughout the semester. A goal for the future is to increase student access to the Observatory (due to limitations of East Lansing weather in the spring semester and the relatively large class size, it proves an ongoing challenge for students to complete multiple labs at the Observatory). In support of AST 208, the Campus Observatory underwent a significant upgrade this winter, with assistance from the contractor \href{http://www.astronomical.com/}{Astronomical Consultants \& Equipment}. The Observatory is now equipped with a spectrograph, which opens up new avenues for hands-on scientific inquiry with our on-campus facilities.