You’ll have access to exceptional labs and collaborative spaces in the recently renovated Physical Science Building, as well as a digital planetarium and observatory for astronomy classes, activities and research.
Teaching Facilities
Teaching facilities include:
- Three laboratories for introductory physics and astronomy courses.
- One well-equipped computer-based laboratory for both introductory and upper-level courses. The lab contains software relevant for both numerical analysis and computer-aided design.
- Four laboratories for upper-level courses that include specialized capabilities in optics, atomic and nuclear physics, electronics, and photonics/holography. The electronics lab includes a new printed circuit board milling machine, where students can design, develop, test and fabricate printed circuit boards for independent projects.
Research Facilities
The faculty of the Physics and Astronomy Department operate a number of research laboratories, including:
Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory
The Astronomical Observatory, located at the College Camp just up the road from the university campus, includes permanently mounted 16-inch and 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes housed under separate domes; a complete computerized astronomical CCD image acquisition and analysis system and science-grade UBVRI and Sloan ugriz filter sets; and six smaller telescopes. The observatory also features our 1-meter mobile reflecting telescope, one of the largest in New York State!
Infrared Laser Laboratory
The Infrared Laser lab is equipped with a high-power axial flow carbon dioxide laser. This laser is frequency tunable and it can be configured for pulsed or continuous output.
Magnetic Measurement Laboratory
The Magnetism and Magnetic Materials lab is equipped with a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. This VSM uses a 1.0 Tesla water-cooled electromagnet, a mechanism for sample vibration, and a signal detection system that utilizes a Stanford Research SR530 lock-in amplifier. Currently this VSM is configured for a variable temperature range from room temperature to about 900 K using a Lakeshore model 330 temperature controller. Data is acquired by a PC with an IEEE-488 interface.
Advanced Mechanics/Materials Testing Laboratory
The Advanced Mechanics lab is equipped with an Instron-8511 materials testing machine, and an ECP Rectilinear Control system. Additionally, the department has purchased the L-Edit software for student projects on design and fabrication of wave guides.
Thin Film Laboratory
The Thin Films/High Vacuum lab is equipped with two thermal evaporation units, Norton NRC-3115 and Denton DV-502. One of these (DV-502) is fitted with a precise Coatings Monitor System.
Other Facilities
College Camp
Located approximately two miles from the main campus of SUNY Oneonta, the College Camp is a beautiful place to learn, relax and see the stars! The 200+ acre wooded site is available for use by SUNY Oneonta students, faculty and staff and features miles of trails for hiking, biking and skiing, and a lodge for meetings and social events. It is home to our university Observatory, which has a 1-meter mobile reflecting telescope and several smaller permanently mounted and mobile telescopes for viewing events and independent student research projects.
Planetarium
Located in the basement of the Perna Science Building just across the quad from Physical Science, SUNY Oneonta’s fully digital planetarium features a Digistar 6 projection system that students can use to present planetarium shows and generate visual models of astrophysical phenomenon.
Science Discovery Center
Located on the first floor of the Physical Science Building, the Science Discovery Center is a free, public resource center for hands-on science. Stop in between classes to try out out the latest exhibits – or get involved as a student intern or volunteer at one of our community events throughout the year.
Contact the Physics & Astronomy Department
Physical Science II
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, NY 13820
United States