Overview

The following frequently asked questions provide answers to a number of key elements relating to the National Schools' Observatory (NSO) project.

What is the National Schools' Observatory?

The National Schools' Observatory (NSO) is a major educational website, established by Liverpool John Moores University, to allow schools to make use of a professional robotic telescope designed for scientific research, called the Liverpool Telescope.

The NSO also provides educational resources to help with the difficult task of teaching science, technology and mathematics in the classroom environment. It has long been known that astronomy creates a sense of excitement and wonder in many youngsters. In a sense, the NSO aims to tap into that interest and further a pupil's knowledge of science and mathematics, while at the same time improve computer literacy and communications skills, strengthen critical thinking and provide experience the real-world application of science and technology.

Using astronomical telescopes is the most important feature of this website and schools registered with the Schools' Observatory have the opportunity to regularly make their own requests to observe the universe using a multi-million pound professional robotic telescope.

Once the observing request has been completed, pupils are able to download the telescope data and use special Image Processing software (LTImage) to analyse the resulting images.

What is a robotic telescope?

A robotic telescope operates automatically with no astronomers in attendance.

As darkness descends, computers and sensing systems bring the robotic telescope into life and, providing conditions are good, the instrument begins to follow the night's observing schedule.

A management control centre, usually located far away from the observing site, oversees the operation of the telescope and sends observing schedules to the instrument each night via the internet.

The Astrophysics Research Institute of Liverpool John Moores University is the management Liverpool Telescope. However, the instrument is located thousands of miles away on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands and not, as its name may suggest, in the UK.

All the electronic pictures (image data) taken by the telescope are sent back to the management control centre for distribution to astronomers and then made available to schools on the NSO website.

How is Liverpool John Moores University helping?

Under a programme of Public Understanding of Science Liverpool, John Moores University has allocated observing time so that schools can use the JMU Liverpool Telescope.

For the first time, UK schools can work alongside scientists using a state-of-the-art professional research instrument.

The Liverpool Telescope is located 2000 miles from Liverpool and sited 2,400m high on the edge of an extinct volcano on the island of La Palma in the Canary Isles.

How can schools work with professional telescopes?

Modern ICT resources available in schools make it possible for teachers and pupils to use robotic telescopes.

Your school can request observations using the Go Observing pages on this website. These requests are then passed to the telescope management centre for inclusion in the telescope observing schedule.

Once completed your telescope images can be downloaded (Go Observing pages), displayed and analysed in the classroom or at home. Following a request, and weather permitting, this process normally takes a couple of days.

You can find out more details about Go Observing on the Go Observing FAQ page.

How will we analyse our data from the telescope?

Image analysis software (LTImage) has been specially developed by Liverpool John Moores University for this purpose.

Schools registering with the National Schools' Observatory can freely download a copy of the software (including a site licence). This licence allows the software to be installed on all computers in the school and on the home computers of students attending the school.

Image data produced by professional astronomical telescopes use FITS computer files which can be read by LTImage.

LTImage can be used to measure the diameter of planets, calculate the length of a Jovian day or size of a distant galaxy. Asteroids can be detected as they appear to travel amongst the stars, and their speeds measured. The birthplace of stars can be identified and coloured images produced to analyse structure. Variations in light from active galaxies, variable stars or stars with extrasolar planets can all be detected and measured.

And this is only a small part of what you can do!

Is the NSO relevant to my teaching?

The National Schools' Observatory can demonstrate many real-world applications of human activity, spanning various aspects of science, ICT and mathematics.

Science and ICT Departments may well make most use of the Schools' Observatory as a classroom resource. However, teachers in other departments can demonstrate interesting applications in their subject areas to support learning and help motivate pupils.

Use the Teaching Resources section of the Staffroom to see various teaching applications across a range of subjects.

At what Key Stage is the NSO aimed?

The education programme associated with the National Schools' Observatory is primarily aimed at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4.

No distinction is made between primary and secondary education and pupils should be directed to use appropriate parts of the NSO website relevant to their study.

More information about resources being developed for A-level Physics can be found at this link.

Have teachers been involved in developments?

The National Schools' Observatory has been working closely with primary and secondary teachers to explore ways in which the application of robotic telescope technology can enrich teaching.

Science, ICT and mathematics were all subjects identified as potentially benefiting from the development of teaching materials.

Resources are continually under development and we actively encourage schools to trial new material and suggest ideas.

Use the Teaching resources section of the Staffroom for information about currently available teaching materials.