Connecting Students and Citizen Scientists to Deep Space through the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) Program

Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) program is a collaboration among NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Lewis Center for Educational Research. Using one of two 34-meter radio telescopes at NASAs Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, K-12 students have been collecting scientifically valuable radio astronomy data for over 20 years. Two core principles are at the heart of the GAVRT program: (1) The data which students collect and analyze must have real scientific value; and (2) Students must get real educational value in return. In recent years, the project has expanded to include citizen scientists outside of school settings. GAVRT has reached over 600 teachers, 350 schools, 45 states, 15 countries, 3 U.S. territories, and 50,000+ students. There are currently 4 GAVRT science campaigns. Jupiter Quest, the first campaign, is focused on observations of synchrotron emission from Jupiters inner radiation belts. These Jupiter observations also provide support for Juno, a spacecraft orbiting Jupiter, and students collaborate with members of the Juno science team. Black Hole Patrol regularly monitors the radio power received from a collection of quasars, to study both the quasar environment and the intervening interstellar medium. GAVRT SETI is a search for radio signals of intelligent origin coming from the Galactic Plane. Solar Patrol, the newest GAVRT science campaign, produces maps of the Sun at multiple radio frequencies. These data will be useful to investigate the connection between sunspots and the solar corona, and we are building collaborations between GAVRT, the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array, and Parker Solar Probe. Interested educators and citizen scientists are encouraged to attend online GAVRT training to remotely access radio telescopes located at NASAs DSN from anywhere in the world. GAVRT participants have an opportunity to join a science/education team to interpret their data, deepen their understanding of the specific campaign, and publish scientific papers. GAVRT participants are invited to special space science events as opportunities arise. This presentation will share an overview of each GAVRT campaign, include examples of student data and work, and provide information for scientists, citizen scientists and educators to get involved in this STEM initiative.