Take control of a 2-metre telescope used by professional astronomers! A live observing session gives you 30-minute access to a robotic telescope in Hawaii or Australia. During this time, you'll be the only person using the telescope. You will watch as your observations are taken in real time.
Don't worry if you have limited or no experience of live observing. Our online guide will help you use the Real-Time Interface. This guide explains how to use the webpage, which lets you interact with the telescope. There is also a list of targets you may want to observe. We suggest these objects because of their size (to fit the camera's frame of view) and location in the sky.
Once your image has been taken, it will be processed within a few minutes and can be viewed during your session. You can also download the data for future analysis. Our imaging software can help with this – it was designed for schools and is easy to use.
Live Observing brings real-world science to your students, giving them hands-on experience with scientists' tools and methods. It's an inspiring way to bring classroom learning to life and connect students with the broader world of scientific discovery.
