Members of the Remote Astronomical Society use the facilities of Global Rent-a-Scope to engage in astronomical research. Membership in RAS is automatic for GRAS science observers. This series of pages is designed to allow our observers access to information about research activities and allow for collaboration among our members. Each major area of research is linked to a page. In addition to normal research information, we have pages that link to protocols and sites that members have found useful. Membership in the RAS offers special research rates through the GRAS.
Many amateurs who perform CCD imaging eventually wish to move on to apply their imaging skills to collecting and analyzing scientific data. Those with their own permanent observatories use these facilities. However, many of us do not have access to an observatory or to the instrumentation necessary to make research a pleasant and rewarding experience. RAS affords research opportunities at modest cost by working with the Global Rent-A-Scope network. RAS provides access to the GRAS at a discount for certain telescopes designated as "science" or "dual use telescopes" if the time is used to collect scientific data. Download our Beginners Guide to see how to use one of our telescopes at the Mayhill observatory.
Arnie and Brad have introduced a new and less complicated pricing structure for science observers at the GRAS facilities. Science Telescopes such as 001, 002, 004, 007, and "dual use" telescopes such as 005 and 015 receive science discounts. Astrophotography scopes DO NOT receive discounts for science observers. The plan is much easier to understand. For example, if you select the $95/month science plan, the minimum hours for imaging on GRAS-002 is 3.8 hours. This might be extended, depending on the moon discount. New science observers should consult the plans.
Updates on HO6 minor planet observations and discoveries are now available through December 2007 in PDF format through the Asteroid page. Also, the Moorook Observatory (GRAS008, 0012 and 0015) has received its designation as D90.
When Bill Dillon, past president of the AAVSO and RASO variable star coordinator, learned of the plans of Dr. Paula Szkody (University of Washington) to use the Hubble telescope to image the cataclysmic variable known as SDSS091908, he planned a campaign of observation that would insure that Dr. Szkody would avoid attempting to image the system uding an outburst, which could damage the Hubble sensors. Taking advantage of the 24/7 global capabilities of the GRAS system, he made round the clock observations immediately preceeding Dr. Szkody's Hubble imaging session, thus insuring success of the mission. GRAS scopes in New Mexico, Israel and Australia were employed. Details of the mission are posted on the AAVSO web site.
Global Rent-A-Scope and the Remote Astronomical Society are cooperating with school groups from Chicago and Israel to launch StarPals, a cooperative international community of students who will use the global facilities of GRAS to study astronomy. If your school is interested, StarPals now has an active web site with information about the programs available. Students will be learning how to image and will use this knowledge to collect scientific data. One beginning project is the Luyten Challange. Students will be measuring high-proper motion binary star systems to learn how to collect astrometric data and to learn some of the properties of binary star systems.