Mankato State University is using a CCD camera system and associated computer equipment to support photometric and astrometric applications. The camera is being used with a new high-quality 20-inch astronomical telescope in a new observatory building. This instrumentation is being used to teach students teh applications of equipment and techiques used in astronomical research. Class projects include subjects as fundamental and diverse as trigonometric parallax, cluster color-magnitude diagrams, cluster luminosity functions, asteroid orbits and galactic star counts. The University is matching the award with an equal amount of funds.
