RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Hands-on Research
Our students work closesly with their faculty-mentors on innovative research and often have the opportunity to present their original research at national astronomical conferences. Students have access to several research facilities, including a suite of on-site telescopes located on the roof of Mendel Science Center, remotely-operated telescopes in Arizona managed by University consortia, and national facilities—such as Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope, via faculty research programs.
Villanova Astronomical Society
The Villanova Astronomical Society aims to provide a haven for astronomy students and enthusiasts, from those just discovering their interest to the seasoned amateur astronomer. The group presents “Sky Shows” to area schools and groups, travels to dark sites to stargaze, and enjoys a movie night occasionally. VAS has traveled (since 1996) almost every fall semester to Green Bank, WV, for a weekend to learn about and to use radio telescopes at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Nearly every year VAS visits the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. These valuable experiences permit the group to explore different facets of astronomy—ones that we are unable to fully exploit here on campus.
In addition, VAS sponsors special “Open House” events at the observatory. These events showcase various sporadic and seasonal astronomical events, such as lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions, etc. They have always been immensely popular with the surrounding community (and into New Jersey and Delaware), and can draw in excess of one hundred people to Villanova for each gathering, weather notwithstanding!
College and University Resources
In addition to resources and opportunities through the English Department, Villanova provides support to undergraduate students in all aspects of their collegiate experience and beyond through the centralized services of the Office for Undergraduate Students, Office of Education Abroad and Career Center.
