1000th school signs up for observatory

27 March 2009

The NSO forms a vital part of the outreach work undertaken by LJMU’s Astrophysics Research Institute.  It provides a free web-based science resource for all schools and colleges in the UK and Ireland and has gained in popularity since its initial launch just three years ago.

In addition to the large number of resources that are currently available, all schools that register gain instant access to the telescope, which is based in the Canary Isles, through the internet.  This allows individual students or group of students to take images of a large number of astronomical objects, including planets, moons, stars, nebulae and galaxies.  Often these images form part of their individual study program in science or may form part of a whole class project.  As such they provide teachers with numerous science-based class activities and projects as well as providing students with an invaluable resource, irrespective of their ability.

The John Cleveland College is a Specialist Science College based in Hinckley and is one of a growing number of specialist colleges that have registered with the NSO.  The 1000th registration marks another significant landmark in the life of the NSO and testimony to the value that the Liverpool Telescope is having on everyday classroom science. 

Dr Andy Newsam, Director of the National Schools’ Observatory and Reader in Astronomy Education, commented: “This is another milestone that the NSO has reached in only a relatively short time.  We are delighted that schools, particularly Specialist Science Colleges, are using our facilities to enhance the provision of science throughout the curriculum.”

This landmark is particularly timely as it coincides with the International Year of Astronomy (IYA).  As part of the IYA celebrations the NSO is planning a number of workshops for school teachers around the UK later in the year.