Galaxy Gazer
 When it comes to experiential learning, there is little that compares to gazing at the far reaches of the Milky Way galaxy through a telescope at one of the world’s major observatories, perched on the rim of an extinct volcano high in the Canary Islands. But that’s exactly what Case senior Nick Indriolo did for eight days in September.
Mr. Indriolo, an astronomy major from Canton, Ohio, assisted Heather Morrison, associate professor of astronomy, in her research as part of the “Spaghetti Project.” The project is a major survey of the Milky Way that seeks to determine how much of the galaxy’s halo was accreted from the destruction of satellite galaxies. Prof. Morrison and Mr. Indriolo were searching for “red giant” stars in the halo.
Mr. Indriolo says the opportunity to help Prof. Morrison occurred by happenstance. “I had gone to talk to her about another research project I’m working on with her, and she asked if I wanted to get some hands-on experience by helping her out with this observation run.” His travel and living expenses were paid by Case’s astronomy department.
This was Mr. Indriolo’s first trip abroad. His duties consisted of operating the telescope and working on the images it produced, so that they could be analyzed to find the giant red stars. “We were running basically from nightfall until dawn. We wanted to collect as much data as we could while we were there.”
Prof. Morrison and Mr. Indriolo conducted their observations using the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT), a powerful telescope located on La Palma in the Canary Islands. The INT is one of a group of telescopes on La Palma operated by a board of astronomers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The telescopes are grouped around the rim of an extinct volcano’s crater. One side of the crater has eroded away, providing views of the sea 7,000 feet below. “That’s a bigger drop than the Grand Canyon,” Prof. Morrison notes, adding that the location is “possibly the most beautiful of the many beautiful mountains I’ve worked on.”
Mr. Indriolo plans to attend graduate school and study astronomy after he receives his degree from Case. 
JEFFREY BENDIX
Photograph of Nick Indriolo on La Palma among the various telescopes used by astronomers courtesy of Mr. Indriolo
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