Observatory For Schools
Boeing Observatory Educational Experiences
The South Carolina State Museum is home to the Boeing Observatory featuring a 1926 Alvan Clark 12 3/8″ refracting telescope connected to state-of-the-art technology that gives students all over the state the ability to control the telescope and observe the night sky all from their classroom.
The Boeing Observatory offers a variety of on-site field trip experiences and distance learning programs for SC schools, as well as professional development opportunities for South Carolina Teachers.
Distance Learning Experience
To schedule this experience for your class, e-mail distancelearning@scmuseum.org and observatory staff will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
Magical Moon Madness Program
In this distance learning experience, observatory educators will communicate directly with your class using Skype, FaceTime, or Google+ Hangouts. You’ll need an Internet-enabled device (either iPad or computer) and a large screen. We’ll guide your students in an interactive moon phase demonstration using a ball and light source (both items provided by the teacher), and show images of the Moon taken with our 1926 12 3/8-inch Alvan Clark telescope. Finally, we’ll show your class a live view of the Sun (weather permitting). In the event of cloudy weather, we’ll use images of the Sun taken on clear days. Time permitting, we’ll also recap the recent total solar eclipse.
Duration: 30 minutes
Available Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; times by arrangement with observatory staff
Cost: FREE for South Carolina students
Grades: 4th and 8th grade
Style: Interactive distance learning experience
SC 2014 Academic Standards for Science: 4.E.3, 8.E.4
To schedule this experience for your class, e-mail distancelearning@scmuseum.org and observatory staff will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
Our Amazing Sun
In this distance learning experience, observatory educators will communicate directly with your class using Skype, FaceTime, or Google+ Hangouts. You’ll need an Internet-enabled device (either iPad or computer) and a large screen. We’ll stream a live image of the Sun into your classroom (weather permitting) and describe amazing solar features such as sunspots, prominences, and solar flares. We’ll also guide your students through an interactive activity in which we’ll use a tennis ball and 25-foot piece of string to compare the sizes of the Earth and Sun (both items provided by the teacher). In the event of cloudy weather, we’ll use images of the Sun taken on clear days. Time permitting, we’ll also recap the recent total solar eclipse. To schedule this experience for your class, e-mail distancelearning@scmuseum.org and observatory staff will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
Duration: 30 minutes
Available Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; times by arrangement with observatory staff
Cost: FREE for South Carolina students
Grades: 4th and 8th grade
Style: Interactive distance learning experience
SC 2014 Academic Standards for Science: 4.E.3, 8.E.4, H.E.2
To schedule this experience for your class, e-mail distancelearning@scmuseum.org and observatory staff will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
On-Site Experiences
Click on the programs below to reveal descriptions and details.
Open Exploration Visit
The Boeing Observatory opens daily at 10 a.m. to all visiting museum guests and school groups. Public solar observing times are: Mon.-Fri. from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., Sat. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. 1 to 5 p.m. Solar observing is dependent on clear skies. If your school group does not have time to schedule one of the museum educator led classes linked below, you are still welcome to visit the observatory at any time during while you are here. An astronomy educator will be there to greet you. Please note: Observatory may be in use for scheduled school classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am-1:45pm. Click HERE to learn more about booking a field trip.
Night-sky Viewing During Second Shift Twosday
The State Museum is open late every Tuesday night for museum exploration, night-sky viewing in the observatory, planetarium shows, 4D movies and more. Did you know that this time of day is great for organized field trips as well? Teachers can register as a school group and simply tell school families what date and evening to show up. Please note: a minimum of 10 students is required. Click HERE to learn more.
Observatory Outreach Experiences – NEW!
The Boeing Observatory is happy to announce its new observatory outreach program. We can now send telescopes and trained astronomers directly to your school for FREE! Check out the programs below for more information.
Daytime Programs
In this outreach experience, students will participate in hands-on, standards-based activities followed by a safe view of the Sun through one of our portable solar telescopes (weather permitting). Museum educators will bring all necessary materials for the classroom activity which means minimal, if any, prep work for the teacher!
Daytime programs are primarily for SC school districts that may have difficulty bringing their students to the State Museum. The State Museum reserves the right to prioritize outreach scheduling based on grant goals.
To schedule this experience for your class, e-mail observatory.outreach@scmuseum.org and observatory staff will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
Evening Programs
Need help organizing a school science night, star party, STEM night, or similar event? Look no further! The Boeing Observatory can bring standards-based activities, telescopes, and astronomers to help with your event.
While daytime programs are limited to certain SC school districts, the evening programs are open to all SC schools.
To schedule this experience for your school, e-mail observatory.outreach@scmuseum.org and observatory staff will coordinate a time that works for your schedule.
