VIREO - The VIRtual Educational Observatory (Version 1.504) 1.50

VIREO (The VIRtual Educational Observatory), Version 1.504, is an interactive astronomy lab environment developed by Project CLEA at Gettysburg College. It simulates a working observatory—complete with telescope controls, detectors, and instruments—so students can plan and carry out observing sessions, acquire images and spectra, and analyze their data as they would at a real telescope, but in a controlled, classroom-friendly setting.

Key capabilities:

• Telescope and instrument simulation: point and track targets, adjust focus and exposure, select filters, and operate imagers and spectrographs.
• Realistic data acquisition: obtain scientifically plausible images and spectra with appropriate noise, resolution, and calibration steps.
• Core workflows: practice photometry, spectroscopy, redshift measurements, and construction of H-R diagrams and other standard analyses.
• Guided learning: supports CLEA’s modular lab exercises with clear procedures that emphasize experimental design, uncertainty, and interpretation.
• Data handling: save observations and measurements for further analysis or reporting.

Who it’s for:

• Introductory and intermediate astronomy courses (high school AP through undergraduate), lab sections, and outreach programs that need authentic observing experiences without the constraints of night observing or weather.

What it delivers:

• A safe, repeatable way to teach observational techniques.
• Hands-on practice linking telescope settings to data quality.
• A bridge between raw observations and astrophysical conclusions.

Version 1.504 represents a mature, classroom-tested release of the VIREO platform used across multiple CLEA laboratory exercises.

VIREO - The VIRtual Educational Observatory (Version 1.504) is developed by Project CLEA - Gettysburg College. The most popular version of this product among our users is 1.5.