Contributing to Citizen Science with Unistellar

Unistellar is inviting owners of their smart telescopes to participate in a unique citizen science initiative: tracking the light curve of the Artemis 2 rocket. This project aims to gather valuable data that complements professional observations, similar to previous successful efforts involving the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Dr. Franck Marchis, senior planetary astronomer at the SETI Institute and co-founder of Unistellar, emphasizes the importance of these efforts. He notes that coordinated observations from amateur astronomers worldwide can help refine mission tracking, improve analysis, and strengthen the bond between the public and the scientific community.

How to Prepare for the Observation

If you have access to a Unistellar telescope and clear skies on the evening of April 1, you can participate. To ensure success, find a location with a clear horizon or higher elevation. It is recommended that you practice by pointing your telescope at the moon to fine-tune your focus and exposure settings before the launch.

Step-by-Step Observation Guide

  • Target Selection: Visit the Unistellar platform and select Artemis 2 as your target.
  • Data Entry: Input the date, time, and location of your planned observation.
  • Configuration: Once you receive a link back to your app, reconnect your telescope and select 'GoTo' to automatically input the correct right ascension and declination.
  • Recording: After the telescope slews to the target, click the record button to begin capturing data.

If the target temporarily disappears, refer back to the ephemeris page to determine when it will become visible again. While an invitation to the official Slack community will be sent in the following days, joining is not required to begin your observations.