ACGC is the only academic program in the country offering a two-week residential experienced focused on astronomy. When it comes to astronomy, equipment and technology go hand-in-hand with learning. Access to the best gear is essential, and Gettysburg College boasts some of the finest astronomy facilities in the country.

We begin with the history of astronomy and then move to constellations and our own solar system. Our second week focuses on stars, galaxies, and the universe. The mornings are filled with talks, classes and activities ranging form Galileo to black holes; while the afternoons are spent on projects and lab time using simulation software created right here at Gettysburg. On clear nights, we stay up late and go to the observatory on campus to view the planets, nebulae, galaxies, and other celestial objects.

Campus resources available to our students include:

• Project CLEA labs
• Observatory with 8-inch Celestron and Meade telescopes
• Top-notch computer and lab facilities
• Hatter Planetarium

Our Astronomy students will also:

• Visit the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.
• Observe and plot sunspots at our observatory
• Construct a 3-D map of the universe
• Study the motion of planets and stars in our planetarium
• Work in labs on telescopes, digital images and cameras
• Build small spectroscopes and construct a sundial