Live Astronomy from Mount Wilson to the classroom

The Telescopes in Education (TIE) program brings the opportunity to use a remotely controlled telescope and charge-coupled device (CCD) camera in a real-time, hands-on, interactive environment to students around the world. TIE enables students to increase their knowledge of astronomy, astrophysics, and mathematics; improve their computer literacy; and strengthen their critical thinking skills. Telescopes In Education is a program sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and developed through the efforts of numerous volunteers, businesses, and supporting organizations including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

The TIE program currently utilizes a science-grade 24-inch reflecting telescope located at the Mount Wilson Observatory, high above the Los Angeles basin in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. The telescope has been used by students in grades K-12 to observe galaxies, nebulae, variable stars, eclipsing binaries, and other ambitious projects and experiments. Hundreds of schools in the US and around the world (including Australia, Canada, England, and Japan) have successfully used the prototype telescope on Mount Wilson. Through TIE, students have rediscovered and cataloged a variable star and assisted the Pluto Express project at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to revise the ephemeris (orbital location) for the planet Pluto.

 

The telescope and CCD camera located at the Mount Wilson Observatory can be operated remotely by educators and students from the convenience of computers in their classrooms via modem and special astronomy software. Images can be downloaded to a remote user of the telescope in five minutes or less (the time depends upon the speed of the user's modem). These images can be stored in the user's computer for later image processing and study. Use of the TIE system is without charge except for the purchase of "The Sky: Remote Astronomy Software" which controls the telescope. The software also serves as an excellent stand-alone, educational astronomy program. The cost of the software is discounted for educators and students using the TIE telescope and can often be obtained by schools through donation from local service clubs and businesses.

Educators and students can reserve observation time on the Mount Wilson telescope for any evening of the week. Observation sessions can last from one hour to an entire night. Arrangements can be made for projects requiring special observation times or long-term, repetitive observing runs. For further information on how students, teachers, and schools can participate in the TIE program, click on Contact Information, System Requirements, and the TIE User's Guide and Workbook.

 

TIE PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS The Telescopes In Education (TIE) project has been in successful operation for more than five years. During that time:

· During 1999, Telescopes In Education enabled over 10,850 students in over 380 schools located in 25 states of the United States to conduct astronomical observations and real research through the remote operation of automated 14" and 24" professional-quality telescopes on Mount Wilson, California.

- Over 25 schools in 6 countries have participated in the TIE program, thereby promoting multicultural experiences with students and schools in the United States.

- TIE was recipient of the 1996 Rolex Award for Enterprise for Applied Sciences and Invention. This award resulted from an international competition consisting of more than 2400 applicants, worldwide. TIE director, Gilbert A. Clark, was one of only five laureates honored in 1996.

- TIE received the 1996 NASA Group Achievement Award. TIE director, Gilbert A. Clark, received the 1996 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Award for Excellence, and the JPL NOVA (Notable Organizational Value-Added) Award for his work on TIE. In 1998 noted JPL astronomer Eleanor "Glo" Helin named asteroids in honor of both Gilbert A. Clark and Lori L. Paul, TIE outreach coordinator.

- TIE director, Gilbert A. Clark, received the Clifford W. Holmes Award for Innovative Telescope Design on behalf of TIE.

- Soka University in Japan awarded Gilbert A. Clark their highest achievement medal and proclamation in recognition of the international contribution TIE has made to education and peace.

- The TIE website has received several awards, including: Education Index 1998 Outstanding Education-Related Website; 1998 Web Master Gold Award and Web Master Gold: Wall of Honor ("Wall of Honor websites have reached the pinnacle in visual, functional, meaningful, and relevant content in WWW communications."); Griffith Observatory Star Award June 1998 ("The best astronomy sites on the WWW presenting useful, thorough, and accurate information in a well-organized and attractive way, making the sky more accessible.")

- The TIE project receives support from NASA, and California Institute of Technology (Caltech). · TIE has been invited to demonstrate remote telescope operation and conduct workshops at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the California Science Teachers Association (CSTA). · The TIE project has been extensively covered by the print and broadcast media, including the following publications (in alphabetical order): Astronomy (twice), Atlantic Monthly, Audubon, Boys Life, Microelectronics, National Geographic, Natural History, Nature, Popular Science, Science Education (British Council), Scientific American, Sky & Telescope (9 times), Smithsonian, and hundreds of European magazines and journals. TIE aired as a feature story on the premiere of Microsoft NBC News, the Sci-Fi Channel Inside Space science program, and has been widely covered by other televised news programs. TIE has been referenced in over 8,000 publications, websites, and broadcast media.

A new CCD imaging camera with a 1024 x 1536 matrix of 9 micron pixels will allow planetary imaging when installed on the new 6" f / 15 refracting telescope located at Mount Wilson Observatory in California. The camera has been successfully used on the 24" f / 3.5 reflecting telescope for photometric studies of stars.

The inventor of the Dobsonian telescope, the famous "sidewalk" astronomer John Dobson, has agreed to allow JPL / NASA to publish his book on how to construct a 10" Dobsonian telescope on their websites. (Click here to visit the Build a Dobsonian Telescope educational booklet.)

Santa Barbara Instruments Group (SBIG) has given permission to distribute their Macintosh and PC-class image processing software to educators at no charge.

Dedicated teachers who participate in the Telescopes In Education program have been able to obtain over $2,000,000 in grants and donations because of their association with TIE. Teachers, such as Jerry Musillo at the Trinity School in New York state, have used TIE to justify requests for upgrades in communications equipment, computer systems, and software. Trinity School (founded in 1709) was reluctant to install phone lines and computers in their classrooms. Jerry Musillo was able to make a positive case for obtaining phone lines and computers after presenting the TIE program to his school board. Since that time, Trinity School has been a regular and enthusiastic remote user of the telescope on Mount Wilson.

 

Gilbert A. Clark, Project Manager / Director

Telescopes In Education / Mount Wilson Institute
(626) 794-1360
gilclark@earthlink.net
P. O. Box 60163
Pasadena, California   91116-6163   U.S.A.
TIE Presentation for Windows 95