The D-Space service integrates numerous robotic telescopes seamlessly into one virtual observatory and provides the services required to operate this facility, including a scheduling service, tools for data manipulation and access to related educational materials provided by the currently running projects and networks. Additionally the DSpace service facilitates the usage of broadband communication channels as a means of interaction and data transfer mechanism between the telescopes and the remotely located users around the world. In this way the effective and fast response of the service is safeguarded. The D-Space is a distributed network of science centres and robotic telescopes accessed by students, educators, researchers and the wider public (e.g. visitors of science parks) via Internet.
Quick laboratory facts:
Science subject: Astronomy
Offered by: The platform was developed in the framework of the European project “Discovery Space”
Language of the interface: English
Registration needed: YES
Recommended because: Pedagogical material is available. Astronomers on site to assist at scheduled hours, and two example class activities in our tool-kit
Additional software needed: Not necessary. Some software however is recommended for the process of the images (LTImage, ImageJ, SalsaJ)
Guides and material for teachers:
Teacher and learning material offered: Two good practices are available: 1) Lunar Craters and 2) Galaxy classification and Formation
Academic publications on pedagogical lab use: "Quantitative Analysis of the usage of the COSMOS Science Education Portal" (Sofoklis Sotiriou, Franz X. Bogner, George Neofotistos); "Can a Solar Eclipse Create a Solar Excitation? Quantifying Social Excitations Generated by Science Events" (Giorgos Neofotistos, The University of Crete, Physics Department, Sofoklis Sotiriou, Ellinogermaniki Agogi, Greece).
Notes: The DSpace platform will be fully updated within the following months.
Activities
Moon's Craters During this activity students will have a look in detail at images of the Moon to determine whether the density, size and appearance of craters vary across the lunar surface.
Galaxy Classification and Formation The following exercise aims to introduce the concept of varying galactic morphologies. Students will look in detail at images of numerous galaxies and you will attempt to classify them according to the Hubble Classification Scheme. Moreover, you will try to investigate the origin of the shapes of the galaxies that stem from galaxy interactions.
UniSchooLabS is funded with support from the European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Laboratory 
