Kindergarten students, for example, might learn about the sun — perhaps a teacher will begin with “Did you know you can look at the sun?” — and what a telescope does. Students then can delve deeper into the science associated with astronomy, with older students applying physics and complex math.

“The science involved is just phenomenal,” said Harkness, who is a mechanical maintenance supervisor at Exelon.

Harkness enthusiastically greeted students who arrived from Wilton and Durant to help put everything together. Hard hats and other safety measures were part of the action while Harkness guided the students.

Bit by bit, the shell came together until the roof went on by the end of the day. Cory Anderson, senior at Wilton, pitched in with others in his ag mechanics class. "It's pretty cool — something different in town," he said.

On hand to help out was Ben Anderson of Wilton, whose children, Eli and Kira, attend Wilton Elementary School.

“The kids are excited about it,” said Anderson, who is part of a construction crew in Muscatine. “There are a lot of amazing things in space they can start to think about.”