# Telescopes In Education TIE 3D {#telescopes-in-education-tie-3d .unnumbered}

## Basic Proposal Information

  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
  Title:                 Telescopes In Education TIE 3D

  Brief Description:     TIE database will allow students to view the
                         Universe in 3D in phase 1

  Partners:              Software Bisque, CalState LA

  Center:                Ames Research Center

  Endorsee:              Mark Leon

  Primary Contact Name:  Gilbert Clark

  Primary Contact Phone: 626-794-1360

  Primary Contact Email: <gilclark@earthlink.net>

  Secondary Contact      Mary Cragg
  Name:                  

  Secondary Contact      626-794-1360
  Phone:                 

  Secondary Contact      <mcragg@earthlink.net>
  Email:                 
  ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------

## Milestones

Milestones:

> a\. Institute service contract with Software Bisque..10/02
>
> b\. Institute service contract with QUT\...\...\...\...\...\....11/02
>
> c\. Determine software development cycle\...\...\...\....12/02
>
> d\. "A" testing of 3-D Solar
> System\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...06/03
>
> e\. "A" testing of video camera
> 3-D\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...06/03
>
> f\. Select "B" test
> sites\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....07/03
>
> g\. Deploy software
> results\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....07/03
>
> h\. Evaluate "B" software
> results\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....09/03
>
> i\. Deploy tested software to educational facilities\...12/03

## Project Purpose

> a\. To develop a 3-D rendition of our solar system that will allow the
> user to "fly through the solar system"
>
> b\. To develop a 3-D live view through video cameras associated with
> the TIE program.
>
> c\. To provide an internet forum for students and educators to share
> their experiences and lesson plans.
>
> d\. To establish a broad based training and dissemination program
> amongst the educators.

### TIE background {#tie-background .unnumbered}

TIE has a solid history of 9 years of outreach. TIE provides students
and educators the resources of telescopes and CCD cameras that can be
remotely controlled from anywhere in the world. TIE has allowed tens of
thousands of students and educators direct access to hardware, classroom
support materials, and an internet site that receives over 2,000,000
hits per year. TIE users include not only K-14, but special needs, pre
service, museums, and planetaria. The program has received accolades
ranging from the Rolex award for science innovation to a letter from the
Vice President of the United States.

### 3-D Solar System {#d-solar-system .unnumbered}

Based on Software Bisque's 2-D rendition of a 3-D solar system, we are
ready to take the next step. This new development of the software will
allow the user to travel to anywhere in the sphere of the solar system
in a 3-D environment. They will not only control space, they will also
control time. Objects throughout the solar system will be a veritable
playground. By traveling from one object to another, they will be able
to tell distances and dimensions of the objects. All of this in addition
to the traditional control of telescopes and CCD cameras.

This software will be a powerful tool in the hands of educators. We will
benefit from the classroom activities based on the experience of the
educators. The activities will be submitted to a resource area on the
VTIE massive storage system located at Goddard.

### 3-D video viewing of observatories {#d-video-viewing-of-observatories .unnumbered}

The ability to view a 3-D panorama of observatories coupled with
existing weather at those observatories, will add significantly to the
students understanding of the reversal of seasons between the northern
and southern hemispheres. They will be able to watch the changes in
flora and fauna between sites near sea level to those over 8,000-foot
elevation. I believe that this very real link to the environment of the
Earth will encourage students to visit other web sites that support the
Earth sciences (links will be provided).

### Dissemination of software and activities {#dissemination-of-software-and-activities .unnumbered}

We will provide presentations at various educational conferences,
offering free software to a group of the top suggestions for how to
apply these tools in the classroom. Once the software is in beta form,
we will select from the pool of hundreds of educators using the TIE
program for evaluation and testing. We will once again return to the
conferences, and provide training in classroom activities.

As funding is available we will distribute software to the members of
the ERCN and NASA's brokers. Training will be provided.

## Innovation

a\. Adding cutting edge 3-D functionality to an existing software that
will allow the user to remotely control the telescope and camera to
image objects of interest.

b\. Provide a 3-D view of distant lands coupled with the weather inputs.

## Diffusion Potential

a\. These tools will allow an educator to incorporate not only this
functionality into their classroom, but will encourage students to
understand our solar system, space program, and work with Earth
sciences.

b\. Planetaria and museums will be able to use all of the functionality
built into the software to have a very effective education/public
outreach program.

c\. The software is stand alone, and can be incorporated into any number
of programs.

## Project Feasibility

a\. The project is very feasible -- it is based on a solid foundation of
proven software while incorporating some of the latest technology.

## Partnerships

a\. Software Bisque

b\. Queensland University of Technology

c\. Virtual TIE project (NSF funded)

d\. Cal State Los Angeles (CSLA)

e\. New Roads School (Santa Monica, Ca.)

f\. Carnegie Observatories

g\. Thomas Jefferson School (Alexandria, Va.)

## Evaluation

a\. Direct input from educators and students.

b\. Value of activities developed by educators in the process of
testing.