SIU research team helps on journey to deeper space exploration By Jamilah Lewis, Staff Reporter November 19, 2021
![Zachary Gutenkauf and Jennifer Pierce start research as part of the SIU research team that helps to feed astronauts in Life Science III at SIU Nov. 8, 2021 in Carbondale, Illinois. “This is a multidisciplinary team requiring many specialties. Currently we are in phase one, which is the NASA proposal phase. We are waiting on the phase two ‘rules’ for proof of the concept, which are anticipated to be revealed tomorrow at 10am on NASA TV [Tuesday November 9, 2021]. Once we know the rules for phase two, then the game is afoot,” director of the coal and energy research and a professor in geology, Ken B. Anderson, said.](https://dailyegyptian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NASAresearch1-900x796.jpg)
![Harry Treece, of Carbondale, looks through a telescope Monday during the Transit of Mercury Public Astronomy Observation on the roof of Neckers Building. Treece, who previously worked in information technology at SIU, said he works closely with the physics department and the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois to put on astronomy observations every month. "What's going on here is a transit of Mercury across the face of the sun," Treece said. "Mercury and Venus are the only two planets we can see between us and the sun because their orbits are closer to the sun than ours." He said Mercury can be seen in the morning and evening skies during most of the year. "I think some of the transits [when a planet passes between the Earth and sun] are the most exciting things I've seen so far." He said his interest in space started in grade school. "Looking at all the vastness in the night sky and all the beautiful things that are out there — nebulas, clusters of stars — it's just amazing," Treece said. — May 9, 2016, Carbondale, Ill. (Autumn Suyko | Daily Egyptian)](https://dailyegyptian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/966219a650667a3708da358f43cf10ae.jpg)