This project is now in update mode. Check back regularly to see how things are progressing.
Geometry of Space Research Group Telescope
Who We Are
We are members of the Geometry of Space Research Stream, part of the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) in the College of Natural Sciences.
We are enthralled by the universe.
We are aspiring astronomers focused on discovering the secrets of our universe through research. We range from freshmen to seniors, and come from various majors across the CNS, but are united in our goal.
The Project
We are looking to raise money to obtain a CFF telescope for our research stream. While there are currently telescopes at the UT campus, they are not easily accessible for students and cannot be taken on field trips. In short, they aren't really ours. We want to let students in our stream, especially incoming freshmen, experience the wonders of the sky with their own eyes.
The telescope we are looking for is the perfect solution. It is portable but powerful, weighing only 30 pounds yet having a focal length of more than 3 feet. We'd be able to take the telescope with us to various state parks in Texas, where the sky is clear and the stars are bright. Even from our campus in Austin, the telescope would put the universe in the palm of our students' hands. There is no better way for beginner astronomers to start their journey in the field than by absorbing the beauty of the universe with their own eyes, much like how Galileo and Herschel did centuries ago.
With this telescope, we could gather our own data for future research. As opposed to working with online databases, which are often full of text, numbers, and pictures that others took, our telescope would allow students to get hands-on experience with observational astronomy. We'd be able to literally see the data we collect! Future generations of students will have the opportunity to observe distant stars, nebulae, globular clusters, and galaxies up close, giving them a wonderful introduction to astronomical research.
What You Can Do
Donate! Spread the word! Project funds will go towards our goal of purchasing a CFF telescope. Your contribution, no matter the size, will help inspire UT undergraduate researchers for years to come.
Please consider making a gift today to support our future researchers in astronomy!
$50
Hyades Tier
The Hyades Cluster, one of the most well-studied open star clusters is within 50 parsecs of the Solar System. This donation will help us jump 50 parsecs closer to achieving our end goal.
$160
Light Gathering Power Tier
Our telescope has an aperture radius of 160 mm. The area of this aperture is a measure of its light-gathering power. Therefore a donation of $160 will push us closer to achieving our goal.
$444
Pleiades Tier
The beautiful Pleiades star cluster is 444 light-years away! We'd be able to clearly see it with this telescope. Incidentally, in Japanese, the Pleiades cluster is called the Subaru.
$1,320
Lambda Orionis Tier
The beautiful binary star Lambda Orionis is 1,320 light years away. With your help, we would be able to observe it!
$5,300
Supernova Tier
The extraordinarily bright binary star WR 140 is located at a distance of 5,300 light years, and may be about to go supernova. With your help, our students would be able to observe this beautiful star before it vanishes.
