University of Maryland Observatory Elizabeth Warner UMD Obs

University of Maryland Observatory Elizabeth Warner UMD Obs Coordinator

History � Roll-off roof facility with west and east bays and central office area � Built in the 1960 s ◦ ◦ Completed in 1963 $25, 000 ($60, 000 if you include equipment) 20” installed in 1964 Dedicated 16 Nov 1964 East bay extension in 1968 � Lecture Hall ◦ 1977 � Equipment ◦ ◦ upgrades Summer 2011 (mount, cameras) Left: Dr. Gart Westerhout Summer 2012 (filters) Right: Dr. Uco van Wijk Summer 2013 (ADVS for occultations) Summer 2014 (proposed server and new control laptops)

Current Equipment � West Bay ◦ 20” Bent Eichner Cassegrain � East ◦ ◦ Bay 8” NASA Astrograph 7” A-P refractor 14” Celestron SCT Personal 6” A-P refractor � Six West Bay: 20” before refurbishing in 2000 8” Celestron Ultima 2000 s ◦ Setup on piers outside of lecture hall ◦ Visible light and prominence filters � Portable scopes ◦ Six 8” Celestron SCTs ◦ 10” dob, 90 mm ref, 4” newt, PST The East Bay in former times!

20” Bent Eichner Cassegrain Refurbished in 1999 -2000 f/15 Uses custom control from Astro-Physics Apogee 6 CCD camera ◦ 1024 x 1024 array with 24 micron pixels ◦ 11’x 11’ fov with FLI filter wheel ◦ 5 -cell, 50 mm ◦ Omega Optical filters (Bessel BVR, H-alpha, OIII)

8” NASA Astrograph MOTS ‘Spy’ telescope ‘permanent loan’ from GSFC Yank-n-point Counter-weight driven drive Recently replaced cable Future ◦ ◦ ◦ Power supply Cables Cleaning Display panel Adapter for imaging

178 mm Astro-Physics refractor f/9 Upgraded mount to AP 1200 (2011) ◦ ◦ SBIG ST-10 camera ◦ ◦ 2184 x 1472 array with 6. 8 micron pixels 32’x 21. 5’ fov SBIG CFW 10 filter wheel ◦ ◦ Previous AP mount barely tracked, was yank-n-point Minor modification of existing pier, needed adapter plate 10 -cell, 28 mm Astrodon LRGB H-a OIII JC B JC V clear Sloan z‘ brettmmorris. tumblr. com/post/31799797988/first-light-on -the-7 -telescope-at-the-university brettmmorris. tumblr. com/post/31964454800/the-ringnebula-as-i-observed-it-last-night-with

14” Celestron SCT f/11 AP 1200 mount SBIG ST-8 camera SBIG CFW 10 filter wheel ◦ replaced in 2011 from parallel to USB version ◦ 1530 x 1020 array with 9 micron pixels ◦ 12’x 8’ fov ◦ 10 -cell, 28 mm ◦ Astrodon H-a OIII SII NII clear Sloan u' Sloan g' Sloan r' Sloan i' Sloan z'

152 mm Astro-Physics refractor Personal telescope temporarily housed in East Bay f/9 AP 900 mount SBIG ST-10 camera SBIG CFW 10 filter wheel ◦ 2184 x 1472 array with 6. 8 micron pixels ◦ 37’x 25’ fov ◦ 10 -cell, 28 mm ◦ Astrodon LRGB H-a OIII Red. Cont Exoplanet. BB Sloan r' Sloan z'

Research In the past, deterrents ◦ Light pollution ◦ Outdated equipment… (upgrades done over the summers since 2011!) HS interns (2007 -2008) ◦ 14” ◦ My personal 6” UG independent study, Astro. Terps (summer 2011, 2012) Past school year teams Possible ◦ Asteroids, comets ◦ Variable, eclipsing stars ◦ Exoplanet transits!

Research Brett Morris Exoplanet transits ◦ Summer 2011 using 152 mm refractor ◦ Summer 2012 using both refractors Variables Asteroids ◦ Kalliope and mutual eclipse observations ◦ co-author on www. lpi. usra. edu/meetings/ac m 2012/pdf/6352. pdf Currently training other students (Astro. Terps)

Student Teams High School and college students � Student groups for different topics � ◦ ◦ ◦ � 1 -2 team leaders per team ◦ ◦ � SG 1 – Exoplanets SG 2 – Supernovae Search SG 3 – Asteroids/Comets SG 4 – Jovian moons and events … occultations, software, astrophotography, … College students Serve as mentors Will have keys Announces to team when observing 4 -6 team members ◦ High school students ◦ College students � Training on equipment, techniques, analysis

Research Follow a number of Yahoo groups to stay informed of calls for observations (negative) observation of Pluto occultation (June 2012) Coordinating with GSFC/UMD research group to get spectra of moon Spectroscopy ◦ Spectra-L 200 ◦ SBIG spectrograph Occultations ◦ Purchased ADVS in 2013 Future wish list ◦ Weather station ◦ All-sky camera (weather and meteors) ◦ Seeing monitor

Programs � Classes ◦ Explore the Universe (collaboration between Astronomy, CPS-SDU, NWHS)… transforming how we run this class into our student research teams! �This past spring semester we had 7 SDU students, 2 Phys 299 students, and 3 HS interns. � 2012 -2013 we had no students! ◦ ASTR 310 (fall, labs) ◦ ENAE 441 (fall, 4 -5 groups) ◦ Intro astro classes ? ? �We used to have 110/111 �Currently haphazardly done… TAs … other schools!

Programs � Public ◦ Open Houses � 5 th and 20 th of each month �Lecture, tour of telescopes, observing weatherpermitting ◦ Impromptu observing sessions �Short notice via mailing list, social media

Programs � Public ◦ Special observing (solar eclipses, transits…) at the observatory or on campus ◦ Group tours �Night: 5 th and 20 th of each month BEFORE public session of Open House �Day: M-F �Scouts, school classes, retirement home groups, home schoolers, …

Programs � Public ◦ New Telescope Owner Nights � 1 -on-1 help session �Held in Jan (right after the holidays!) ◦ Learn the Sky Nights �Basics of ‘amateur’ astronomy � 6 nights during the summer

People � Staff ◦ Observatory Coordinator (part-time: Elizabeth Warner) ◦ Technical Advisor (part-time: Dr. D. Wellnitz) ◦ Telescope operators (hourly & volunteer, undergrads) � Guest Speakers (faculty, grads; from UMD and other institutions) � MCs ◦ Grad students (“volunteers”) � Volunteers ◦ Special events, large crowds

$$$ � Good question! � Comes out of Department overhead (a very nebulous source!) � Student tech fees ◦ Submit proposal to get equipment ◦ ST-10, filter wheel, filters (7”) ◦ Change for 2014 � Observatory fund ◦ Selling used text books, ‘garage’ sales of old equipment, slides, … ◦ Purchased eyepieces, ST-8 (CCD camera), pier mods for 7”, repair of 8”, filter wheel (14”), filters (14”) � Fees charged ◦ Open Houses and most public events are free! ◦ $10/class charged for LTSN to cover cost of ‘goodies’

Advertising � No paid advertising!! � Websites ◦ Department: www. astro. umd. edu ◦ Observatory: www. astro. umd. edu/openhouse ◦ Astro in DC: astronomyindc. org � Email ◦ Mailing list (600+) ◦ Messages to local clubs � Social Media ◦ Facebook ◦ Twitter � B. Friedlander’s Sky Watch column in Washington Post � Other misc. articles (The Diamondback, Post Weekend, College Park Patch, …)

Collaborations � NCA meetings at Observatory � Email contact with most area clubs and facilities � Astro. Terps ◦ Student astronomy club � astronomyindc. org ◦ IYA project to coordinate/collate public astronomy programs in the area. ◦ NASM and most clubs provide input ◦ Also have random input from GSFC and other “pro” institutions

Challenges � Getting speakers ◦ Volunteers primarily from faculty in department, but also grad students, scientists from area institutions, amateurs � Over-advertising ◦ Surprise article in Wash. Post on 4 Sept 2009 (Labor Day weekend) resulted in 300 people showing up to Open House on 5 Sept… we have seating for 75! � Deteriorating buildings

On the web www. astro. umd. edu/openhouse ◦ Schedule of speakers ◦ Signup for occasional emails/newsletters Facebook ◦ Become a fan ◦ www. facebook. com/UMObservatory Twitter ◦ twitter. com/UM_obs