Pan - African Citizen Science e - lab

incredible research

All the developmental efforts planned by the United Nations for 2015–2030 are encompassed within the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PACS e-Lab projects contribute to Africa's development by addressing 7 out of the 17 goals: Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). Our projects play a vital role in driving Africa's development forward.

Merry Christmas from us to you.🎄❤️🙏🏽 Note: Pictures are Grok AI generated based on our posts on X (Twitter)

This year, our double star research progressed successfully with the participation of citizen scientists from various countries across Africa. They utilized robotic telescopes to gather data for their research and requested historical data from the Washington Double Star Catalog for comparison. Additionally, they reported their findings in research papers, which were submitted to the Journal of Double Star Observations for peer review and publication. The published papers are available on the publications page of our website. Some of our researchers have also presented their findings at conferences. https://lnkd.in/d89ce4sJ In 2025, PACS e-Lab plans to guide our team leaders in documenting their outreach endeavors as best-practice research papers and presenting them at conferences as well. The management team has significant work to accomplish next year.

Much better Christmas tree Nebula

From all of us at PACS e-Lab, we wish you season's greetings, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy posthumous birthday to Isaac Newton. Pictured here is the Christmas Tree Nebula, captured with the 0.4m Las Cumbres Observatory and processed using Astro Pixel Processor. This was achieved through the collaborative efforts of PACS e-Lab and Kyle Lynch Lab, USA. We used 11 exposures for each of the H-Alpha, OIII, and SII filters. The exposure time for each filter was 300 seconds, which is the maximum allowed exposure time on the 0.4m LCO. Our community consists of amateur astronomers who might be quick to dismiss this work, comparing it to other images already available online. However, they should remember that those were captured using space telescopes, which naturally have better resolution. Space telescope images are far better than those captured with ground-based ones. Professional astronomers, on the other hand, would give us a thumbs-up, appreciating the constraints of the type of telescope we used and the effort that went into this work. To see the image in high quality, download from here: https://lnkd.in/dr-EQTY6 For access to the raw telescope images: https://lnkd.in/dnkCww-m

🔭🔥🌍🔬Meet two remarkable academics: Rorisang Mahomo and Prof. Sabiha Essack! For our UWN Africa Edition, Desmond Thompson and Mamello Mokoena bring us these fascinating and inspiring Q&As: ☄️ Mahomo, a final-year business management student at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, has made an #astronomical discovery, proving that you don't have to be a natural #sciences boffin to reach for the stars. Mahomo (20), who hails from #Lesotho, has been credited with the detection of an object orbiting the Sun at a staggering distance of nearly 300 million kilometres from Earth in the Main Asteroid Belt between the Red Planet (Mars) and the Gas Giant (Jupiter). Mahomo’s journey to asteroid hunter began as a child and was reignited when she encountered a student #space society on campus. 📌Access that full Q&A: https://lnkd.in/gBHQact2 🩸Essack, an expert in #antimicrobial resistance (#AMR), based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, has been honoured with the international Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award for her work in addressing the global crisis of AMR. Essack, an expert in AMR, the South African Research Chair in Antibiotic Resistance and One Health, a professor in pharmaceutical sciences, and an honorary professor of #pharmacy at the University of Jordan, has been recognised for her contributions to bridging #research and #policy. She intends using the funds from her latest award to assist #students experiencing financial challenges in completing their #postgraduate studies as well as to fund students to present their research and create networks at international conferences. 📌Access that full Q&A: https://lnkd.in/d6JwF6Ny Happy holidays to you all! As always, read, engage, share, comment and let us know your thoughts. 🙏 #highered #universities #Africa #women #academics Pan - African Citizen Science e - lab I NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration I The International Astronomical Union I International Astronomical Search Collaboration I BlueCraneSpace I Heystek Grobler I Keketso Qhomane I World Health Organization African Region

Details about our telescope donation campaign across Africa: Countries in green have already received a telescope from us. Countries in yellow have been identified and are on our priority list for future telescope donations. We have a couple of telescopes in reserve, ready to be distributed in 2025. These telescopes are provided to our active citizen astronomer groups to support their local astronomy outreach efforts, as they continue recruiting and participating in our advanced astronomy research, education, and outreach programs.

Map of Africa showing the success of our science campaign over the past four years: The countries in green represent regions where we have conducted successful campaigns. The countries in yellow represent regions that have joined our research group and are preparing for active engagement. The countries in red represent regions where we are still seeking groups interested in joining us. Altogether, we have reached out to over 50 countries, and we are working to connect with the remaining few to complete our coverage of the entire continent. This aligns with our mission of spreading astronomy from the beginning to the middle and ultimately to the ends of Africa.

We are grateful to all our partners for their support, acceptance, and for allowing us to utilize their software and platforms for our astronomy research, education, and outreach efforts in Africa. Next year, we shall be welcoming new partners. #4thanniversary