Galway High Schools Join NASA's Jupiter Study

Five Galway high schools will join NASA's study of Jupiter, the Sun and the Milky Way through the "Connacht School Radio-Telescope Network".

Eight high schools in Connacht, including four in Galway, will have radio telescopes installed This initiative is supported by the Europlanet consortium, a € 9.95 million project funded by the European Commission under this initiative . Horizon 2020.

He announced that he was supporting Connacht's schools in his 2018 proximity funding program.

The Galway schools that will have a radio telescope installed are: Ardscoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe; St. Joseph (The Bish) on Nun's Island; College of Presentation, Headford; and Coláiste na Coiribe at Knocknacarra

Each radio telescope 20 feet long, 10 feet high and resembling two washing lines, will observe the poles of Jupiter, where is located the version of the aurora borealis of the gas giant

. The information collected during their operation will be transferred to a NUI Galway server, contributing to NASA's larger Radio Jove network of facilities studying Jupiter's magnetosphere.

Dr. Aaron Golden from the Mathematics School of NUIG explains the benefits of the project "Practical activities in astronomy have great potential to inspire students in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics . "

"However, the possibilities of equipment and specialized facilities are limited, non-social hours and, of course, a clear sky, certainly for optical astronomy."

However radio astronomy can be done at any time, day or night,

These schools have also been selected for the project because the low population density around them will limit interference from other radio frequencies emitting devices.

"Radioastronomy is a very profitable alternative for teachers and students. participate in real observations of radio objects such as the Sun and the planet Jupiter, "said Dr. Golden.

" Participate in the study of the largest astronomical community of this fascinating planet of the world. solar system. "

The project will be officially launched in Berlin in September at the European Congress of Planetary Sciences, together with others that have received the support of the Europlanet consortium.