In May, small groups of University of Nevada, Reno students climbed a narrow outdoor stairway to step inside the Great Basin Observatory, a remotely operated telescope housed in Great Basin National Park. The visit connected classroom work on the Reno campus to hands-on research in Nevada’s only national park.
From campus data to the field
The trip was led by Melodi Rodrigue, an associate teaching professor in UNR’s Department of Physics. Students had already used data from the observatory in classes and research projects and were invited to see the facility up close after an evening spent camping under the park’s dark skies.
The observatory is funded, constructed and operated by the Great Basin National Park Foundation. That arrangement allows UNR students and faculty to access observational data remotely during the academic year while preserving the observatory as an interpretive and research asset in the park.
"It's an exciting opportunity to see the park that I've actually been able to work with," said Allyson Decramer, a recent physics graduate who used the observatory's data in her research on binary stars.
Decramer, who completed a physics degree with minors in mathematics and astronomy, said a course project had her identify a binary star system observed by the telescope and determine whether the pair was a physical or optical double. Her analysis included the use of space velocity vector analysis, a technique referenced in recent faculty research.
How the observatory supports students and faculty
- Students access remote observing time for class assignments and research projects.
- Faculty integrate observatory data into advanced coursework in astronomy and physics.
- The Great Basin National Park Foundation maintains the facility and supports its educational mission.
The visit underscores the connection between UNR — Nevada’s land-grant university — and public lands stewardship. Students move from analyzing data on campus to experiencing the site where observations are taken, offering a tangible link between academic study and field-based science.
| Facility | Operator | Primary use |
|---|---|---|
| Great Basin Observatory | Great Basin National Park Foundation | Remote telescope observations for research and education |
Students and faculty benefit from direct exposure to the observatory’s operations, while the foundation and the park gain from strengthened ties to university research and the next generation of scientists. The experience also highlights the value of dark-sky locations in Nevada for astronomical studies and student training.
As UNR continues to incorporate observational data into its curriculum, partnerships like the one with Great Basin National Park provide hands-on opportunities that complement classroom learning and published faculty work — a practical advantage for students pursuing careers in astronomy and related fields.
This visit is part of an ongoing relationship that gives students access to facilities they might not otherwise see in person, reinforcing Nevada’s role in supporting both education and public-land science.
