Astronomers at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will soon be able to take a wide look at distant galaxies, comets and black holes through the view of a telescope atop Kitt Peak in Arizona.

Through a partnership with the WIYN Consortium, the students and instructors at UWSP will share in a renewable three-year agreement to use a 0.9-meter telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory southwest of Tucson. The observations will take place over an Internet connection that allows manipulation of the telescope�s controls.

The WIYN Consortium, which includes astronomers at UW-Madison, Indiana University, Yale University and the National Optical Astronomical Observatories, formed in 1990 to share observations to acquire a 3.5-meter telescope at Kitt Peak. With this sharing of the telescope, WIYN expands to include UWSP, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Whitewater, the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, the University of Florida, Wesleyan University and San Francisco State University.

Each institution within the partnership is providing a portion of the $503,000 needed to renovate and operate the telescope and employ an on-site manager to assist with problems and adjustments. Each institution receives a share of observation time in proportion to its financial contribution.

Both UWSP and UW-Whitewater have pledged $28,000 between 2001 and 2004 and will each have observation time eight nights per semester. In comparison, UW-Madison has pledged $140,000 for 38 nights a semester and UW-Oshkosh will give $20,000 for six nights.

"UWSP has never had access to a telescope like this," said UWSP physics Professor Katie Jore, UWSP�s representative on the WIYN Advisory Committee. Jore was able to observe at Kitt Peak as a graduate student and noted that the clear skies and low light pollution make it a good spot for observation.

Although the 0.9 telescope is small, it has a wide field of view that will be beneficial in research Jore will lead. Using images from the telescope, she will measure the stellar populations and areas of recent star formation in spiral galaxies with counter-rotation.

"The research will be very useful for students who work with me," Jore said. "This is an excellent experience for physics majors who want to continue astronomy study in graduate school."

Having use of this kind of equipment will also attract students to UWSP, she said, and the data collected will be used by students and astronomy professors for years to come.

UW-Madison Professor of Astronomy Robert Mathieu, chair of the WIYN consortium�s board of directors, said that having observation time provides students with opportunities to explore on their own.

"It is very effective educationally," he said, "and is much more closely linked to science than classroom lectures and problem sets. It�s also a great deal more fun."

San Francisco State University plans to develop a planetarium show and Web site about the 0.9 telescope. This show may be shared with the partnering institutions in the future in order to reach a larger national audience.

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