Moorhead astronomy professor can now operate telescope from his couch

Professor Matt Craig can remotely operate the telescope in the observatory of the MSUM Regional Science Center. By Robin HuebnerInforum, July 5, 2023 MOORHEAD — A professor in the Minnesota State University Moorhead Physics and Astronomy department is getting a lot more sleep these days and more work done at the same time. Matt Craig now has the ability to operate […]

Physics & Astronomy Professor Matt Craig featured in Forum story about light pollution

Restoring ‘dark sky’ would benefit birds, people and science, local advocates say By Robin HuebnerMay 22, 2023 Light pollution is harming wildlife, birds and humans, according to a delegate from Dark Sky International and the National Audubon Society. GLYNDON, Minn. — When one’s passion involves scanning the heavens for distant objects in the name of science or a hobby, a dark […]

Student submits data to NASA project

Physics and Astronomy student Emily Watson submitted measurements of an exoplanet, a planet around a star far from Earth, to NASA’s TESS mission as part of its ground-based follow-up observers program.  Emily took the data using MSUM’s Paul P. Feder Observatory at the MSUM Regional Science Center, operating the observatory remotely over Thanksgiving break. She observed the star dimming briefly […]

Physics and Astronomy students present research at national meeting

Department of Physics and Astronomy students Mara DeRung, Tanner Weyer, and Emily Watson presented an electronic poster at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. They presented the work they did this past summer automating MSUM’s Paul P. Feder Observatory and observing exoplanets and variable stars.  The students are shown below with AAVSO Executive Director […]

MSUM students share love of astronomy with hundreds of visitors at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Six MSUM students volunteered at the 10th annual Dakota Nights astronomy festival at Theodore Roosevelt National Park Sep 16-18, 2022. They set up several telescope for evening star viewing and gave visual tours of the constellations using laser pointers. Five of the students, Alex Niemi, Emily Watson, Izzy DiOrio, Mara DeRung, and Tanner Weyer, have majors in the Department of […]