S C O P E S
c o n f e r e n c e
June 5 - 7, 2025 at the University of Minnesota Morris
c o n f e r e n c e
June 5 - 7, 2025 at the University of Minnesota Morris
Breakfast in Dining Hall
Session 2: Science Auditorium, Science Building
Featured Presentation
9:00 AM Discover the Mysteries of Chaco Canyon
Van Romero, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Chaco Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern New Mexico, stands as one of the most enigmatic and astronomically rich ancient sites in North America. Despite the absence of a written language, the Chacoan culture left behind architectural alignments, petroglyphs, and artifacts that reflect a profound understanding of celestial phenomena. This talk will explore the field of archeoastronomy and its application to Chaco Canyon, offering insight into how the Chacoans observed and incorporated the cycles of the Sun and Moon into their cultural and ceremonial life. A review of the Chacoan civilization will set the stage for a deeper investigation into their astronomical practices, including the remarkable alignments of major buildings with solar and lunar events and the engineering sophistication needed to achieve them. Emphasis will be placed on the Sun Dagger site at Fajada Butte, a dramatic example of prehistoric solar tracking that marks solstices and equinoxes with remarkable precision using light and shadow. Additionally, the talk will examine evidence suggesting long-distance cultural connections between Chaco and Mesoamerican societies over 3000 miles away, proposing that the Chacoans were part of a broader network of knowledge exchange. By exploring the integration of astronomy with architecture, ritual, and regional influence, this presentation aims to shed light on the legacy of cosmic awareness in the ancient American Southwest.
Coffee break
10:30 AM Observing Made Easy: Integrating Smart Telescopes in the Astronomy Classroom
Judy Vondruska, Ph.D., South Dakota State University, Brookings SD
11:15 AM SCSU in the Field: Lessons from the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (Phases I and II)
Rachel Humphrey, Caitlin Andersh, Amanda Banyas, Azara Boschee, KC Corte, Naomi Dykeman, Regina Fleischman, Annette Lujan, Sarah Rasmussen, Aurora Salzer, Sophie Tice, St. Cloud State University, St Cloud MN
Lunch in Dining Hall
Session 3: Discussions and workshops in Sci 2190
Coffee and refreshments available ins Science Atrium
1:00 PM Observatory maintenance, repair, and best bang-for-buck upgrades
Mark Tiritilli, Illinois Wesleyan University - Mark Evans Observatory, and Dylan Collette, Oglethorpe University
2:00 PM Broad Overview on AstroPy
Matt Craig, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead MN
3:00 PM The Challenges of an Astronomy Club in a Commuter College
Kevin Schindler, RVCC Planetarium & 3M Observatory
Coffee Break in Science Atrium; Opportunity to hang up posters in Oyate Hall
Session 4: Science Auditorium, Science Building
4:30 PM Do-it-yourself sun funnel for telescope solar observing
Joe Hauger, Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshal, MN
4:55 PM Low Cost Spectroscopic Capabilities for Small Observatories
Philip Griffin, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, J. Alex Fluegel and
Nathalie Haurberg, Knox College, Galesburg, IL, and the MACRO Consortium
5:20 PM Observing Exoplanet Transits with the Goodsell Observatory Northern DOme teLescope for Amateur Astronomy (GONDOLAA)
Ryan Terrien and Josiah Tusler, Carleton College, Northfield MN
Conference Dinner in Oyate Hall
7:00 - 8:30 PM Poster Session in Oyate Hall
1 Transit and Comparative Analysis of TOI-1811 b
Ethan Huyghe, Caleb Stallworth, Gilbert Pedroza, and Mariel Meier; Oglethorpe University, Brookhaven GA
2 History of the Baldwin Observatory
Chase Haggarty, Charlie Bartels, Andrew Moody, Emma Daling, and Kevin Boyd; Aquinas College, Grand Rapids MI
3 Work on the University of Minnesota Morris Observatory: revival and expansion
Ethan Schmitz and Sylke Boyd, University of Minnesota Morris, Morris MN
4 Science Outreach Activities at the Morris Campus Observatory
Caden Brown, Josh Johnson, and Sylke Boyd; University of Minnesota Morris, Morris MN
5 Supporting Student Research Through Simultaneous Optical & Radio Observations
Nathalie Haurberg; Knox College/MACRO Consortium, Galesburg IL
6 A Tool to Predict Binary Eclipses Observable from Your Location
Gabriel Grant, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead MN
7 The Dark Sky Caravan: A Yearly Outreach Event
Jessica Rogers; University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth MN
8 The New Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth
Evan Kafer and Jessica Rogers; University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth MN
9 Using TESS to Aid in Exoplanet Confirmations
Hannah Crumby and Jacob Mailhot; Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead MN
Outside on the Campus Mall:
8:45 PM Outdoors: Mobile Telescopes
Morris Observatory open