DSC_1181.JPGDSC_1186.JPGDSC_1192.JPGDSC_1177.JPGDSC_1169.JPGDSC_1174.JPGDSC_1176.JPGDSC_1170.JPGDSC_1193.JPG
J-Term at Carthage

Telescopes on Display

Carthage students create their own telescopes in J-Term science course

The lobby in Hedberg Library, next to Donna's Bytes, is usually crowded with students trying to catch a quick lunch at Einstein's Bagels before or after class. But on Wednesday, Jan. 27, it became a showcase of 6-foot-long telescopes created by Carthage students in the J-Term course Telescope Making.

The non-lab science course was taught by Carthage physics professor Doug Arion. Students constructed 6-inch aperture telescopes, making all of the optical and mechanical elements. Students met during both J-Term class periods (9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 4 p.m.) in order to finish their telescopes on time. 

"Professor Arion didn't give us easy-step manuals," said Danielle Stokosa, '13, a business major. "We had to measure everything from existing telescopes." Students also hand-painted and decorated the outsides of the tubes.

"I love teaching the course because everybody walks away with working telescope that they can actually use," said Dr. Arion. "Everyone does a lot of hard work, and they get a great telescope out of it."


Story by Elizabeth Reinhardt, '12
Photographs by Tess Beltran, '12