ADRIAN — For the past two years, people have been able to visit Adrian and experience an event that promises to be a fusion of art and science.
PlaneWave Instruments, along with the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute, Adrian Center for the Arts and River Raisin Ragtime Revue, will open its Adrian campus for two days this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, for the third annual Campus Open House- and Science Exhibition.
PlaneWave Instruments, designer and manufacturer of observatory-class telescopes and instruments for customers worldwide, is headquartered in Adrian at 1375 N. Main St. and was founded in 2006. The telescope manufacturer’s campus is also home to the Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue (R4).
Opening hours October 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The two-day event is free and open to all ages.
Free parking and shuttle services will be available from the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) Tech Center and Jackson College parking lots, both of which are located across North Main Street from the PlaneWave campus.
“We are proud to host our annual Open House and Science Expo, where the community can come together to explore the incredible synergy between art and science,” PlaneWave President and CEO Richard Hedrick said in a press release. “This event reflects our commitment to education, innovation and fostering a deeper appreciation for the cosmos. It is an opportunity for everyone to see firsthand how art and science can intersect to create something truly extraordinary.”
This year’s event should provide “extraordinary” opportunities for community members of all ages to explore the wonders of the universe through both a creative and scientific lens, according to PlaneWave.
From November 2022: PlaneWave Instruments telescope system named Coolest Thing Made in Michigan
There will be stalls and activities for people watching, and guests can enjoy looking through a solar telescope for daytime viewing, nighttime viewing if weather permits, physics of flight demonstrations on the new disc golf course, and a full display of by PlaneWave manufactured telescopes, including a telescope purchased by NASA designed for laser communications.
The expo will also feature educational talks from industry experts, showcasing the latest developments in science and astronomy, and how these developments inspire creativity and innovation.
Here are some other highlights from the event:
-
Guests will have the opportunity to tour PlaneWave’s state-of-the-art campus and experience a variety of interactive booths and activities that showcase the blend of art and science.
-
Astrophotography photos: capturing images of the cosmos.
-
InSTaR Booth (Institute for Student Astronomical Research): Learn more about groundbreaking research in astronomy.
-
3D printing demonstrations: Witness the future of manufacturing in action.
-
Laser Communications: Explore the technology of laser-based communications, including recent developments from NASA.
-
Robotic displays: Experience the intersection of automation and innovation.
-
Art demonstration by Adrian Center for the Arts: featuring ceramics, glass blowing and more.
-
Hot Glass Demonstration: An up-close look at the art of glassblowing.
-
Make it/Take it tent: practical activities for younger participants.
-
Solar System Walk: A scaled tour of the solar system.
-
Star Party: Nighttime observation session to view the stars through PlaneWave telescopes.
From April 2024: PlaneWave Instruments forges a partnership to revolutionize laser communications
PlaneWave launches new housings for telescopes, advanced instrumentation
Earlier this month, PlaneWave announced the launch of its latest innovation: the PlaneWave enclosures, state-of-the-art enclosures designed to meet the challenges of housing advanced telescopes and gimbal systems for remote and autonomous applications.
“These enclosures provide a significant leap forward in structural integrity, environmental protection and rotational speed and acceleration and are designed to meet the demands of space situational awareness and lasercom ground stations,” PlaneWave said.
PlaneWave enclosures are designed to enhance the performance of today’s most advanced astronomy research, commercial and defense applications.
“Our goal has always been to push the boundaries of what is possible in astronomy research and to support our customers’ advanced application needs,” said Hedrick. “With the introduction of our new enclosures, we are addressing critical issues that have existed in the industry for decades. We believe these enclosures will not only protect the instrumentation, but also increase the reliability and productivity of the entire observatory system.”
Subscribe now: For the latest local developments, breaking news and sports content for high schools and colleges.
PlaneWave enclosures are available to order and provide a solution for remote and autonomous astronomy, satellite observation, Lasercom ground stations and other applications requiring the highest levels of performance and protection. They are designed to rotate the entire structure on an industrially sealed bearing, significantly improving structural rigidity and allowing higher rotational speeds, according to a press release.
For more information about PlaneWave enclosures or to place an order, visit planewave.com.
— Contact reporter Brad Heineman at bheineman@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: twitter.com/LenaweeHeineman.
This article originally appeared in The Daily Telegram: PlaneWave Instruments hosts annual open day science expo October 5-6
