Toolkit
Laboratory Laboratory


http://mo-www.cfa.harvard.edu/OWN/


 

NASA's space science researchers control some of the world's most sophisticated space probes and orbiting telescopes to get amazing images of objects in space. Now YOU can join them by operating your OWN ground-based "MicroObservatories" - real robotic telescopes that you command through this website!

MicroObservatory is a network of automated telescopes that can be controlled over the Internet. The telescopes were developed by scientists and educators at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics and were designed to enable youth nationwide to investigate the wonders of the deep sky from their classrooms or after-school centers. 

They are located and maintained at observatories affiliated with the Center for Astrophysics, including the Harvard College Observatory in Cambridge, MA and the Whipple Observatory in Amado, AZ.

  • Quick laboratory facts:
    • Science subject: Astronomy
    • Offered by: Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
    • Language of the interface: English
    • Registration needed: NO
    • Recommended because: #
    • Additional software needed: MicroObservatory Image is needed to process images
  • Guides and material for teachers:
    • Teacher and learning material offered: Here it is possible to download lots of material, such as teacher guide, a student/learner guide, documentations, etc
    • Academic publications on pedagogical lab use: Sadler, P. M., Gould, R., Leiker, P. S., Antonucci, P., Kimberk, R., Deutsch, F., & Hoffman, B. 2001, "MicroObservatory Net: A Network of Automated Remote Telescopes Dedicated to Educational Use," Journal of Science Education and Technology, 10(1), 39.
Activities 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.

astronomy remote d-space all good practices
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Is the Moon really larger when you see it on the horizon?
The purpose of this exploration is to design an experiment, using the telescope, to investigate the apparent size of the Moon when it is near the horizon, compared to when it is higher in the sky.

astronomy remote own all good practices
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How does Gravity Work?
Students will observe the possible motion of a comet near the Jupiter and the Earth with the animation "Planet Impact" and investigate the effects of gravity on a comet's trajectory by changing the angle of approach, the speed, and the mass of large and small bodies. In the assessment activities, students will use their knowledge to crash a comet into Jupiter or make a comet fly past the planet without colliding with it.

astronomy virtual planet-impact all good practices
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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.

Discuss this activity in the forum

astronomy remote d-space all good practices
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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.