ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The SUNY College at Oneonta will unveil the largest optical telescope in New York State at a "first light" ceremony at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29, at the College Observatory at the College Camp. Admission to the event is complimentary, and members of the community are invited to attend.
The ceremony at the observatory will begin at 8:30 p.m. with short remarks by SUNY Oneonta President Nancy Kleniewski, Provost F. Daniel Larkin, Physics and Astronomy Department Chair Sunil Labroo, and Observatory Director and Dean of Science and Social Science Michael Merilan. The telescope will be unveiled at 8:50 p.m., and it will be available for observations of the night sky from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
In the event of inclement weather, the College has scheduled back-up dates of Saturday, May 30, or Sunday, May 31, for the ceremony, with the events scheduled at the same times.
The 40" telescope collects over 1.5 times more light than New York's previous collegiate record holders, a 32.25" telescope at Alfred University and a 32" at Vassar. The new instrument has the light-gathering power of more than 20,000 human eyes and reveals celestial targets over six times fainter than previously detectable with the College's current 16" telescope. Constructed by JMI Telescopes of Lakewood, Colorado, the telescope is computer controlled.
The 40" telescope will support the College's instructional, research, and service programs in astronomy and astrophysics. Dr. Merilan adds that "The College's students, faculty, staff, and the community will be able to study the sky with unprecedented clarity and precision as well as observe objects previously unreachable with our equipment."
Before the first light ceremony, the College will also offer a complimentary demonstration of its digital planetarium in room 19B of Science Building 1 on campus. At 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:30 p.m., up to 28 visitors in each session will experience dramatic digital animations of the sky and virtual voyages through the solar system, galaxy, and universe. Audience members will be seated in the planetarium on a first-come, first-served basis.
More information about the events, the telescope, and the planetarium is
available from Dr. Merilan at (607) 436-2125.
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For more information about the College, please call the Community Relations Office at (607) 436-2748 or send e-mail to Carol Blazina, Vice President for Community Relations.SUNY College at Oneonta - Ravine Parkway - Oneonta, NY 13820 - 607.436.3500
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