48-INCH WIDE TELESCOPE PLACEMENT

WHEN: June 11 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Turner Hall Observatory

WHY: CALIPSO Satellite Research

Hampton, Va. - Hampton University’s Center for Atmospheric Sciences will take its first major step toward the April 15, 2005 satellite launch date for CALIPSO, or cloud-aerosol lidar and infrared pathfinder satellite observations. On Friday June 11, a 48-inch wide telescope will be lowered into an opening in the Turner Hall observatory by a five-story crane at 8:30 a.m.

CALIPSO is a joint project between Hampton University and NASA Langley Research Center, which will collect and validate data and distribute it to scientists all over the world. The data may address questions concerning global climate change, how pollution spreads and how the ozone layer is being depleted.

CALIPSO is a laser that emits two wavelengths of light that scatter in the atmosphere, bouncing off air particles and clouds, and then transmit back to the satellite. Scientists can construct a vertical photograph of the atmosphere by evaluating how long it takes for the laser pulses to bounce back to the satellite.

For more information about CALIPSO, contact Dr. Pat McCormick at 757-727-5108.