Ironwood Observatories and Learning Center

Contact: 808-375-3060 Email: kenarcher@iolc.org

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During the starting phases of operations students will have access to the observatory on site. The picture below shows two observatories. They are part of the Ironwood Observatory complex and are privately operated through personal funds and not a part of the” Ironwood Observatories and Learning Center”. We have an approval from the IRS to use funds from the nonprofit to pay for hourly time on the observatory; the hourly rate was set very low to only cover the cost of maintaining the very expensive equipment and software.

The domed observatory is controlled remotely through an internet connection. The remote user only needs to have a computer with an internet connection and Internet Explorer. The remote user has a web page to log onto with a special password and user name. Once logged on there is a menu of choices for the remote user to choose from. To take a simple picture of a deep space target the remote user types in the catalog number of the target, the software will then take over from there and run the observatory robotically. The picture is taken automatically and even final processed and compressed to be saved into the users folder. The final image will be displayed on the remote users screen at that point all that the remote user needs to do is double click on the image and it will be downloaded to the remote users own computer.

Several types of operations can be carried out remotely; some users choose to take an image of a specific target to study while others conduct deep sky surveys to look for near earth objects (NEO’s). These operations can be conducted while the user watches the progress or a script can be used to run the observatory while the remote user sleeps. All files can be retrieved at anytime.

As mentioned on the first page we have a long term goal to raise funding to build an “Remote Robotic Observatory” for the students to run and maintain. This will provide a venue for learning about science, math, robotics, software, construction, internet, management functions and many more useful skills. Students who wish to participate in the program would have access to the observatory. The students would be encouraged to provide remote imaging services to other schools both locally, nationally or internationally. In exchange they would be allowed to use observatories located in other locations. The students would learn to collaborate in projects with students in other locations and at the same time learn science and communication skills.

Ironwood Observatory

Inside the dome is a fully automated system.

We have curriculum that has been developed for an astronomy education program. The students will benefit from an classroom astronomy class with real hands on experience using the professional equipment. At the end of each course the students will be required to hold a student Star Party for their peers in the local school district. This program will be run independently of the public school system but will coordinate at times for star parties to interest the students from each school.

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