Astrophotography

The Physics Department owns two 8” and one 10” Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector telescopes with auto-tracking tripods. These telescopes are often used in the introductory astronomy lab course, PHY 151. The images of the planets and stars on this page were taken with the Next Image 5 solar system imager. In order to produce the star’s or planet’s spectra, a 100 lines/mm transmission diffraction grating was inserted into the telescope. The spectral images can be analyzed with software to determine the chemical composition of the star or planet’s atmosphere.

Binary Star Albireo located in the constellation of Cygnus (The Swan) with its emission spectrum. Photo taken by S. Nolan

Binary Star Almach located in the constellation of Andromeda. Photo taken by S. Nolan

Emission spectra of the binary star Almach. Photo taken by S. Nolan

False color image of Jupiter. Can you spot any of the Galilean moons? Photo taken by S. Nolan

False color image of Saturn. Look at those rings! Photo taken by S. Nolan

Jupiter. Photo taken by S. Nolan

Jupiter. Photo taken by Z. Eridani and S. Nolan

Moon- can you spot its three main features: craters, mare, and highlands? Photo taken by Z. Eridani and S. Nolan

Orion Nebula- a stellar nursery. What is causing the beautiful colors? Photo taken by Z. Eridani and S. Nolan

Our star, the Sun, taken with a solar filter. The black spots are called sunspots. Photo taken by Z. Eridani and S. Nolan

Saturn with its spectrum Photo taken by S. Nolan

Solar eclipse visible from campus on 4-8-2024. Photo taken by CJ Johnson

Uranus Photo taken by S. Nolan