The Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium (KNAC), consisting of the astronomy and astronomy/physics departments at Colgate University, Haverford College, Middlebury College, Swarthmore College, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, and Williams College, is upgrading the laboratory experiences of its astronomy students. The departments are bringing new CCD technology for imaging and spectroscopy to introductory and intermediate level students by purchasing spectrographs, X-terminals, computer memory, and hard disks for existing CCD cameras and workstations. They will then be able to teach image processing techniques to classes as well as introduce the important astrophysical technique of spectroscopy to all levels of students. Exercises include: cluster H-R diagrams; supernova, stellar, and asteroid light curves; parallax of asteroids; astrometry of asteroids; using planetary moons to illustrate Kepler's Laws; taking spectra and observing the binary system Albireo in the B and V filters to show how the magnitude with each filter correlates with the observed color differences and spectral type; and identification of stellar spectra.
