Remote viewings for K-12 classrooms!
The Georgia Tech (GT) Observatory offers schools a unique opportunity to view the Moon and
other objects in the night sky - during the school day!
Through remote control of the Aloha Telescope, students can experience a live viewing using
a telescope from their classrooms. Located in Maui, the Aloha Telescope offers schools the
unique opportunity of telescope viewing during the day time.
Depending upon viewing conditions, celestial objects such as the Moon, planets, galaxies,
nebulae, and more are viewable using the Aloha telescope! Participating classrooms will be
guided by the GT Observatory Director, Dr. Jim Sowell and our
collaborating astronomers, with opportunity for Q&A and interaction.
All viewing sessions are from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time unless otherwise communicated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How will we view the Moon?
The GT Observatory has partnered with STEM@GTRI's Direct to Discovery program to offer virtual viewing sessions to classrooms. These sessions still offer interactivity, the ability for remote control of the telescope, and asking questions to real astronomers - but allow for schools beyond the Atlanta metro to participate in this exciting opportunity.
How will we control the telescope?
Upon logging into an observation session, you will be asked to enter a queue. When it is your turn, we will give you remote desktop access to the telescope control computer via Zoom. Our astronomers on the call will guide you through the process and support your class in locating an object and taking a stellar photo!
What if the weather isn't great?
The Aloha Telescope has been thoughtfully situated in a location that often has clear skies and great viewing weather, but sometimes cloud cover or rain impedes our ability to view objects. In the event of poor viewing conditions, we will use previously captured images and media to give students an astronomical experience.