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The Florida
Institute of Technology (FIT) in Melbourne has been planning
a major expansion for many years. The F.W.
Olin Physical Sciences Center, dedicated in January of
2005, is the new home to the Chemistry Department, the Dean's
office for the College of Science and his staff, and most
recently, the Physics & Space Sciences Department.
A variety of programs benefit from the nearly 70,000 sq.
ft. three story facility, including astronomy, atmospheric
sciences, multiple physics and chemistry disciplines and molecular
spectroscopy in addition to two large multi-use lecture/demonstration
classrooms.
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grant from the National
Science Foundation for research instrumentation helped
fund the 32” Classical Cassegrain telescope which will
be manufactured by DFM Engineering and will be installed on
top of the recently completed F. W. Olin Physical Sciences
Center. Originally the request was for a 24” telescope,
but a $150,000 gift from an anonymous Brevard County donor
will enable FIT to increase the size request from a 24”
to a 32” Classical Cassegrain telescope.
“Now, with the state’s largest telescope and our
leadership position in the Southeastern
Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) and resources at Kitt
Peak National Observatory in Arizona, FIT is uniquely
positioned as a national leader in astronomy and space sciences,”
said Dr. Terry Oswalt, vice provost for research and professor
of physics and space sciences.
SARA is a consortium of six southeastern USA universities,
many of which currently house a DFM telescope. SARA’s
mission is to foster astronomical research and education.
SARA hosts a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and
the Department of Defense. This highly motivated team of educators,
scientists and researchers recognize the need for a quality
telescope to ensure the most productive research possible.
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For FIT, the 32” telescope offers an increase
of eight inches in diameter, and in the case of telescopes,
bigger really is better. “The additional eight
inches will allow us to collect nearly twice the amount
of light,” said Dr. Matt Wood, professor of space
sciences. Wood added that “the increased size will
allow faculty and students access to twice the number
of objects in space as a 24” telescope.”
Dr.
Frank Melsheimer, of DFM Engineering, worked closely
with Dr. Matt Wood and Dr. Terry Oswalt at FIT’s
Department of Physics and Space Sciences through the
various stages of planning and development of the observatory
which will house the new DFM 32”
Classical Cassegrain telescope. DFM Engineering
is planning installation of the telescope in the fall
of 2006. |
“Only the highest quality optics are implemented in every DFM telescope as they are an extremely
critical element of our system,” said Dr. Melsheimer.
The superior fork mount and state of the art telescope control
system (TCS) are also standard in DFM’s telescopes.
“We provide more than just a telescope, we provide advice
based upon decades of experience, design services, hardware,
and software for the complete observatory,” said Dr.
Melsheimer.
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