About Skynet Jr. Scholars

Skynet Junior Scholars, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a collaboration among The University of Chicago, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Green Bank, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. This project serves middle school youth and their leaders of 4-H clubs and other out-of-school education groups.

Online and Face-to-Face Leader Skynet Junior Scholars Workshops
The Yerkes 41-inch reflector is the largest telescope in Skynet’s worldwide system of robotic telescopes. Enabling students to observe with telescopes and investigate the universe through their own images is a high priority for Yerkes education projects.

With a simple internet connection, students conduct various astronomy investigations using world-class telescopes in the US, Chile, and Australia. Suitable for middle school students and older youth in 4-H clubs, after-school and museum programs, and other non-school groups, Skynet Junior Scholars (SJS) workshops offer:

• Access to Skynet Robotic Telescopes
• Explorations through a series of inquiry-based STEM activities that engage young people in a variety of astronomy topics
• An online web-portal which allows users to create an image gallery, share data with other young scientists, and publish their results
• Communication with astronomers, engineers, software developers and SJS staff
• An opportunity for young participants to advance and assist astronomers with their projects

How to Join

Participants in out-of-school programs may participate in SJS after an adult leader completes an SJS professional development workshop. Participation in this workshop is free of cost.

Yerkes is now accepting applications from leaders of 4-H clubs, after-school programs, museum programs, and other non-school programs. To learn more and to apply, visit Skynet Junior Scholars Workshop (http://www.gb.nrao.edu/sjsworkshop/)