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Show The Tfumderbird Monday, September 26, 1983 Pape 33 Prof cares for observatory and has astronomical plans by Fletcher Matson Theres a new star on campus this year the new Ashcroft Observatory Director and Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Physics Brent Sorensen. Professor Sorensen will be replacing Professsor Robert Jones, who headed the planetarium from 1981 to 1983 and switched fields this year to teach computer science. Sorensen was born and raised here in Cedar City and graduated from SUSC with a bachelors degree in math in 1972. He spent some time as a chemist in Page, Arizona, then returned to his alma mater to receive his teaching certificate in 1976. He then taught in the Jordan district high schools for a total of five years. In 1981 he applied for and won a teaching assistantship aCWichita State University. Two years later he left with his masters degree in physics and astronomy. His position at SUSC resulted from a summer visit with Steven Heath, physical science and engineering department chairman. Sorensen had asked him about a possible teaching position at SUSC and Heath contacted him in March about the observatory vacancy. Sorensen turned down another job offer from Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Az. to teach here because he prefers living in the Cedar area, he says. Teaching at SUSC will also give him the opportunity to pursue his doctorate in physics and astronomy without quitting his, job. Sorensens duties include conducting the public star programs held Mondays and Fridays at Ashcroft Observatory. He presents slideshows of different astronomical phenomena and monitors telescopic observation of the stars and planets. Now hes doing some personal star photography to use as displays. On Tuesdays he oversees the astronomy class labs. Currently, 11 people are registered for this quarters lab; 13 have signed up for the actual class (Physics 121- - Introduction to Astronomy). Interested persons should check with the registrar. Sorensen has several ideas for improving the astronomy program, one of which is to replace the observatorys rather small Schmidt-Cassegrai- n telescope he telescope with a hopes to build. (The size refers to lens diameter.) He already has the materials; construction should take two or three years. However, he does have several projects hes ready to undertake now. The new director would also like to purchase a photometer for photometric h (continued on page 35) i COLLEGE STUDENTS MAKE NEW FRIENDS RELAX AND BOWL Jo) i COLLEGE NIGHT MONDAYS 9:00 p.m. till closing 421 E. Hwy. 91 Cedar City SPECIAL RATES student card 90 per game 250 shoe rental with C phone: 586-138- 3 |