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Classroom Astronomy Via Remotely-Controlled Telescopes (Abstract)

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Barrett S. Duff
Telescopes In Education, 740 Holladay Road, Pasadena, CA 91106

Abstract
The Telescopes in Education (TIE) project, sponsored by the Mount Wilson Institute, NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and California Institute of Technology (Caltech), gives teachers and their students worldwide the opportunity to use a 0.61-meter telescope by remote access from their classrooms. Since 1993, over 160 schools have imaged deep-space objects by communicating with the telescope over a telephone line, slewing to the desired object, operating the CCD camera, and downloading the image directly to the classroom computer. Grades K through 12 conduct classroom research projects, including learning the different types of deep- space objects by imaging stars, nebulae, galaxies, comets, and asteroids. Advanced projects include astrometry and photometry. Of special interest is the discovery of new variable stars and the measurement of known variables, including periods and color indexes. Recently, Project SCHOLAR--Students Conducting Hands-On Learning in Astronomy Research--was initiated to give students around the world the opportunity to work hand-in-hand conducting observations and research for the astronomical community through the TIE program. Additional telescopes in several northern and southern hemisphere countries will provide expanded capacity, diversity, and scheduling flexibility.

Link to article on ADS