Spring 1999

Scoping across 1500 light years

Physics and Applied Optics Professor Richard Ditteon and Rose-Hulman astronomy students have proven that its truly a small, small world. Or, make that universe.

Using telescopes from the Lynn Reeder Observatory on campus, Ditteon (PH, ’'75) got a glimpse of the Orion nebula, a gaseous cloud where stars are formed. Astronomy students have followed up Ditteon's research by continuing to collect data on asteroids this spring.

"We have been fortunate to photograph and examine many asteroids, which should assist in futher research into the origins of our universe," said Ditteo. The Orion nebula is approximately 1,500 light years away from Earth. Even more fascinating is that fact that the Orion nebula that Ditteon photographed is about 50 light years across or 300,000,000,000,000 miles!