MicroObservatory

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Astronomical telescope and image processing system will be developed for educational use. This "MicroObservatory" will be designed to be used for classroom instruction by teachers as well as for original scientific research projects by students. It could also be used by the public in planetariums and science museums. By adding the recently developed powerful technologies of CCD optical detectors and of microcomputers to a small optical telescope, it will be possible to produce a self- contained, integrated and user-friendly astronomical telescope and image processing system. These are the technologies in the forefront of research in optical astronomy, yet costs have decreased enough to allow these technologies to reach into the schools in the next few years. Probably in no other area of frontier science would it be possible for a broad spectrum of high school students (not just the gifted) to have access to state-of-the-art technologies which would allow them to do original research. We see several important additions to the American scientific educational enterprise by the development and broad dissemination of the MicroObservatory: (1) For the large number of earth science, physical science, physics and astronomy courses taught in the schools, this would be a system which would allow for astronomical observations in the daytime when students are in school, making astronomy a laboratory science like others in the schools. (2) Students themselves could undertake a wide range of research projects which would allow them to learn by doing rather than just by reading, listening to lectures or performing standard laboratory exercises. (3) Students would develop a variety of skills, from computer programming, to image processing, to data analysis, to planning and designing of their own original projects. The proposed program includes construction of prototype systems from off-the-shelf components for use in area schools; development of teaching and research activities; design of the production MicroObservatory; and evaluation and testing throughout the two year project.