Where Curiosity Meets the Cosmos: Research on the Summit of Maunakea
Dr. Christopher Bass, associate professor of physics, recently received funding through NASA’s Mentorship and Opportunities in STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success (MOSAICS) program. His research explores the origins of rare volcanic asteroids using data from NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) in Hawai‘i.
As part of the grant, he traveled to the summit of Maunakea with two Le Moyne students to carry out astronomical observations, an experience that brought classroom learning into one of the world’s most powerful research environments.
From The Heights to the Summit
Le Moyne Students Conduct NASA-Funded Research in Hawai‘i
Located on the summit of Maunakea at over 14,000 feet, the Maunakea Observatories offer a rare vantage point above the clouds, making it one of the best places on Earth for astronomical observation.
The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) is a premier observatory for planetary science, where researchers study asteroids and other objects across our solar system using infrared technology.
Emma Gross and Christopher Belanger at the research facility.
Inside the IRTF, students worked alongside researchers and NASA Co-I, Dr. Driss Takir, to collect and analyze data, turning classroom knowledge into real-world discovery.
