Media Contact:
Jay White, Principal Investigator
Federal funding will transform TMSC’s planetarium and observatory and establish a new data science laboratory
AVON, Conn. — September 17, 2026 — Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement, Inc. (TMSC) has received a $1.7 million federal investment through NASA to expand opportunities for Connecticut students to engage in hands-on astronomy, astrophysics, and data science education.
The funding was awarded as Congressionally Directed Spending through NASA’s Safety, Security, and Mission Services account and was secured through the joint efforts of U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. The 12-month project, beginning in August 2026, will modernize three connected facilities at TMSC’s ridgetop campus in Avon: the planetarium, primary observatory, and a new Computational Astrophysics & Data Science Laboratory.
“The best way to learn science is to do science,” said Jeff Martin, Executive Director of TMSC and Project Manager for the NASA-funded project. “This investment puts research-grade tools directly in students’ hands — a telescope they can control, real data they can analyze — and opens that opportunity to a broader range of Connecticut communities. We’re grateful to Representative Hayes and Senator Blumenthal for making it possible.”
The project will replace TMSC’s decades-old planetarium projector with a full-dome digital projection system and immersive spatial audio, allowing students to explore real scientific datasets, including imagery and data from NASA missions such as the Webb Space Telescope, the Roman Space Telescope, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
TMSC will also replace its end-of-life primary telescope with a research-grade telescope on a precision automated mount inside a fully automated dome. The new remote-access observatory will enable students and classrooms throughout Connecticut to operate the telescope, collect observations, and retrieve data without traveling to TMSC’s campus. Students will have opportunities to participate in NASA-connected citizen science projects, including variable-star monitoring, exoplanet observations, and asteroid tracking.
A new Computational Astrophysics & Data Science Laboratory will provide high-performance workstations and large-format visualization displays, giving students access to professional data-science tools and opportunities to work directly with data from NASA’s public archives. The laboratory will also anchor a new Data Science in Astrophysics certificate pathway.
The investment will strengthen TMSC’s ability to bring research-based STEM experiences to students across Connecticut. With these upgrades and significant improvements, approximately 15,000 K-12 students will be able to experience TMSC’s planetarium each year through school field trips, while public programming, including TMSC’s Skygazing nights, will eventually reach more than 20,000 Connecticut residents annually. The project will also provide more than 45,000 students in school districts across Connecticut with access to research-grade scientific experiences.
According to Dr. Jay White, TMSC’s Director of Science & Innovation, Founding Director of the Talcott Mountain Research Institute, and Principal Investigator for the project, this federal investment creates new STEM opportunities for students of all ages and professionals at all stages of their careers.
“This NASA award gives us the opportunity to do something extraordinary: put the tools of modern astronomy and astrophysics directly into students’ hands and bring them into direct contact with research scientists,” White said. Whether working in the TMSC Observatory or being immersed in the Planetarium within data visualizations from NASA, White said, “students won’t simply learn about discoveries made elsewhere—they’ll confront real data from real scientific instruments, learn how to interrogate nature, and experience the exhilaration of finding things out.”
The project is supported by letters of commitment from the University of Hartford, Wesleyan University, and the Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering, along with support from Connecticut’s congressional delegation.
The NASA investment comes as TMSC looks toward a significant milestone: in 2027, the organization will mark 60 years of operation on Talcott Mountain. The upgraded facilities will build on TMSC’s longstanding commitment to connecting students with hands-on scientific discovery while creating new pathways into astrophysics, data science, and STEM careers.
About Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement, Inc.
Talcott Mountain Science Center for Student Involvement, Inc. has been a leader in STEM education for nearly 60 years. We are a pioneering STEM institution where education, research, and outreach inspire and empower advanced and curious learners. Talcott offers hands-on programs, workshops, and partnerships that foster critical thinking, creativity, and innovation in students of all ages. From classrooms to laboratories to community events, Talcott nurtures the next generation of scientists, educators, and leaders while strengthening communities across Connecticut. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @TalcottScience, or learn more at www.talcottscience.org.