The meeting will take place on May 15, 2025 at 7 PM on Zoom and at the Robinson Nature Center .

Recognizing the telescope’s ongoing potential for producing valuable scientific data, the Institute for Student Astronomical Research (InStAR), Boyce-Astro, and the Small/Scientific Telescope Engineering Learning and Astronomical Research (STELAR) organizations, in collaboration with the Mount Wilson Institute, have initiated a project to adapt it for speckle interferometry of double stars. This initiative aims to reinstate the Hooker Telescope for regular scientific observations, with undergraduate students leading the research and gaining hands-on experience while using a historic instrument.

This talk will explore the challenges of adapting a 108-year-old telescope for speckle imaging, showcase engineering highlights and scientific results from these efforts, and discuss the exciting potential for the telescope’s future as a dual-purpose tool for both astronomy research and public outreach.