Outreach
MSRO Science’s primary customer is the public at large. We provide state-of-the-art astronomical training and research opportunities to amateur and professional astronomers and share our results and activities with the public at large. Our staff provides opportunities to the general public to learn how the latest technology in commercial off-the-shelf astronomical instrumentation continues to support the needs of the amateur and professional astronomer alike.
Venus Transit Outreach Event.
PRO-AM Astronomical Research
The MSRO staff astronomers are involved with the latest observing programs, working directly with professional astronomers all over the world. Upon completion of our training program, you can participate with us and provide observations to professional entities, such as the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Minor Planet Center (MPC), the NASA MIT Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Exoplanet Follow-up Observing Program (ExoFOP), the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), and the Society for Astronomical Sciences (SAS). These and other amateur and professional groups and societies welcome the observations that are possible using the MSRO.
MIT TESS Mission Patch
Seminars and presentations
In-Person—Every year, MSRO Science schedules four in-person presentations on a variety of topics at our Mark Slade Remote Observatory Facility in Wilderness, VA, local libraries, or other suitable venues. Subjects can include: Current Work at the MSRO; Facility and Equipment Used at the MSRO (including procedures and processes); Recent Research Papers; and Introduction to Training at the MSRO.
In addition, MSRO staff members give talks at star parties and astronomy forums and imaging conferences in the United States.
MSRO Science President, Dr. Myron Wasiuta gives a talk at the 2017 Almost Heaven Star Party about “Your Eyes - a users guide to visual astronomy”
Online—Live video presentations and group presentations can also be delivered over the Internet.
Remote observatory operations and maintenance
We offer a course in remote observatory operations and maintenance that covers, in detail, the equipment and instruments (systems, subsystems, and components) used to build an astronomical imaging system (AIS) and how that equipment is integrated into the MSRO. This course also covers the startup and shutdown process and procedures used at the MSRO. These procedures can be modified, as needed, for direct application to your own observatory. Finally, the course covers needed maintenance, including alignments, calibrations, and periodic and preventive maintenance processes.
MSRO Equipment.
Astronomical observing program training
MSRO Science offers a course in remote observatory observing that details the operations of the observatory equipment and instruments and how that equipment is used in your observing program. The course also covers how to design your observing program and how to select the appropriate instruments and configure their settings to obtain the best data for your program.
interactive online training system
The MSRO Training Program uses a range of resources to provide cost-effective training for those interested in learning how to use a remote observatory. Here are just a few of the tools we use to deliver our training:
Staff Astronomer/Instructors and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Textbooks on scientific astrophotography and remote telescopes
Live classroom and lab sessions via Skype
MSRO Training discussion forum for weekly discussions, Q&A, homework, and quizzes
MSRO training manuals for equipment, processes, and procedures
Assigned third-party reading assignments
At the completion of your training, you will receive a certificate of completion allowing you to use the MSRO for your own observing programs.