Story by Rusty Denise Hale

Leita King and her Astronomy students are always putting new ideas into orbit. Hands on experience into the world of Space is far reaching for some but is just another day of learning for these students. In 1990, Leonard Holden, Jr. of Hardy dedicated the observatory located on the Highland campus to the students and the school. Because of this, Highland students now get to enjoy the vast expanses of the universe with an Astronomy class.

"The observatory is equipped with a 12 1/2 inch Newtonian Telescope," says Astrology teacher Leita King. "We have what we call ‘observation nights.’ The kids are getting hands on experience by learning to operate the viewing dome and by changing different lenses in the telescope for different levels of magnification," adds Leita.

"We are happy to have about eight kids in our current Astronomy class," she says. "They are all interested and eager to learn."Being an honors class, the astronomy students can even earn college credit to Ozarka College.

Always ambitious to reach the next level of learning, these students are ready for a whole new telescopic experience. "We have recently obtained a new telescope with computer capabilities," says Leita. "You can download software into the base of the scope and it will veritably find the coordinates you desire," she says.

Leita adds, "It will be satisfying to be able to save and manipulate objects that we have actually viewed in the sky. We may have to purchase a new laptop in order to fully execute all of the capabilities this new scope is equipped with," Leita adds excitedly.

"Right now, it’s all about having some clear weather so we can really start trying some new things out," she says.
A clear, dark Fall sky is great for star gazing and the season is just beginning!

Striving for higher learning and utilizing this selfless gift of the universe is what Leita King and her students are all about, taking this generous donation to out-of-this-world heights!