Tucson High Magnet School students are working with University of Arizona researchers to build the largest telescope in the city.

The 30-inch research-grade telescope will be built by Tucson High students under the direction of Patrick Woida, research specialist at Steward Observatory and Bob Goff, owner of AXE.

The UA's Steward Observatory, Tucson High and local optics firm Astronomically Xenogenic Enterprises are collaborating to build the long-awaited telescope for Tucson High.

The telescope will be completed by May and installed at Tucson High, 400 N. Second Ave. The dome is at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Sixth Street.

The dome was built in 1992 but plans for a permanent telescope were never solidified.

"Tucson High knew what they wanted but not how to build it," Woida said.

Last year, Rigel Woida, 15, Patrick's son, enrolled at Tucson High. He was interested in astronomy and began looking for ways to have a telescope built.

"I went to Bob Goff at AXE and said I wanted to learn how to make a telescope," Rigel Woida said. He also asked his father for help.

The UA got involved in the project about a month ago when Patrick Woida submitted a proposal for the project to Buddy Powell, associate director of Steward Observatory.

"This was a perfect opportunity for us to reach out to these students," Powell said, "We wanted to make sure the students would be successful with the telescope."

Steward Observatory got approval for its involvement on Oct. 10 from Michael Cusanovich, vice president for research and graduate studies.

Cusanovich approved the donation of about 100 pounds of glass for the mirror, Steward Observatory Mirror Lab facilities and personnel for construction of the mold and casting of the mirror, and 300 hours of Woida's time.

Powell estimated the total value of the UA's contribution is $20,000.

The project's total budget is $50,000, Pat Woida said. About $30,000 came from the school's magnet fund and donations have also filled in the budget.

The telescope design includes the 30-inch primary mirror and a 10-inch secondary mirror. Goff has donated all the materials, equipment and training for the students to build the 10-inch mirror themselves and the 30-inch mirror will be made by the Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory.

Tucson High student Melissa Pesce-Rollins, 17, is one of about 15 students working on the optical design for the project. Tuesday was her first day at AXE grinding a mirror with Goff and Rigel Woida.

"These students are so bright and positive, it's a pleasure working with them," Goff said.

So far the work is exciting and not too difficult to understand, Pesce-Rollins said.

"I'm so excited the telescope is finally going somewhere," she said.

The students are able to do the work on the secondary mirror, they are designing the mechanical and computer systems and will be the telescope operators once the project is done, Pat Woida said.

The work on the 30-inch mirror cannot be done by students because of the scale of the project and safety concerns within the mirror lab, Pat Woida said.

But mirror lab staff have offered their time after hours.

Randall Lutz, casting supervisor at the mirror lab, is volunteering his time because, "It can help Tucson High students enjoy astronomy education."

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