School participates in NASA project

MUSCLE SHOALS - In January, earth science students at Muscle Shoals High School will have a new telescope to use for a special NASA-endorsed research project.

The Muscle Shoals district is the recipient of a Science and Math Improvement Grant from the Toshiba America Foundation for $13,950.

A new 16-inch telescope is being purchased to be used in the district's planetarium to study lunar meteorite impacts.

Planetarium director Dwight McGee said the telescope is a major upgrade from the current 10-inch telescope in the facility.

"With a telescope this powerful, it should put students in the range of being able to search for these strikes, and while we don't have any guarantee of making a discovery, I think it's a strong possibility," McGee said. "NASA has made some discoveries, and our students would be the first to participate in the project."

McGee said he had been searching for a project for the senior high students. When he found out about NASA's research, he knew it was the right project.

The project involves juniors and seniors who'll be looking for strikes and determining their detriment to astronauts.

NASA also has provided software for the project, so once McGee is trained in using the equipment, he'll begin training students in Kathy Eldridge's earth science classes.

Eldridge said the opportunity to conduct research on a NASA project is a wonderful opportunity for her students.

"This provides a great opportunity for the students to use more advanced equipment, and they're excited about the possibility of seeing these meteorite strikes," she said. "Once everyone is trained with the equipment, we'll start doing nighttime viewing and they'll be operating out of the planetarium on a regular basis. This project also coincides with the course of study."

The Toshiba America Foundation is a nonprofit group that supports improvements in science and math education through grants since 1990.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or at lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.