Virtual Visits

All educational activities are free.

If you have any questions not answered here or would like to request a virtual learning experience, contact our education team using the form at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions before requesting a visit, please contact us at gro.y1745334053rotav1745334053resbo1745334053bg@sn1745334053oitav1745334053reser1745334053.

General members of the public can sign up for virtual tours through the events calendar. Virtual visits are offered to educational groups of five or more participants only.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Sanctioned school groups
  • Sanctioned university or college groups
  • Church youth groups
  • Homeschool associations or clubs
  • Scout, 4-H, Civil Air Patrol, and other after-school clubs or groups
  • Camp groups from other organizations or museums
  • Adult enrichment or professional development organizations

These virtual visits are open to groups of five or more.

This is an opportunity to learn from a Green Bank Observatory educator. Depending on how much time you’d like to spend, we have several options:

  • Site History: 30-45 minutes. Learn about the history of radio astronomy and the Green Bank Observatory. Usually offered in conjunction with the Science Discussion. Suitable for second grade and up.
  • Science Discussion: 30-45 minutes. Learn about the Green Bank Telescope’s science projects, and analyze real data from our Twenty Meter Telescope. Usually offered in conjunction with the Site History presentation. Suitable for second grade and up.
  • Site Tour: 60-90 minutes. Learn about the history of radio astronomy and Green Bank telescopes and projects. Suitable for third grade and older.
  • GBT Tour: 60-90 minutes. Learn about the design of the Green Bank Telescope, how it moves, how it collects data, and what makes one of the world’s premier radio telescopes. Suitable for advanced high school and older.
  • Milky Way Discovery: 90-120 minutes. Learn about Green Bank telescopes and projects, and then use real data from our Twenty Meter Telescope to discover the motion and structure of the Milky Way. Suitable for fifth grade and up.
  • Virtual Radio Astronomer for a Day: At least two 60-90 minute sessions over two days. Use the Twenty Meter Telescope to take data and discover the motion and structure of the Milky Way. Please note this program is only available when the Twenty Meter is online and unused. Contact gro.y1745334053rotav1745334053resbo1745334053bg@sn1745334053oitav1745334053reser1745334053 for the status of this telescope. Suitable for fifth grade and up.
  • Personalized Visits: If you have a special interest group, such as ham radio, or would like to schedule a visit around a specific part of your students’ curriculum, we will work with you to make a great experience!

Virtual visits are available at any time except Wednesday mornings. Please fill out the form linked below at least two weeks in advance in order to schedule a visit.

The Green Bank Observatory Science Center has a Zoom account that can host up to 99 participants. If your organization has another conferencing system, such as Teams, Skype, WebEx, another Zoom account, etc., that is preferred.

Our educators get busy during field trip season, so get your requests in as early as possible!

Please fill out the form linked below at least two weeks in advance in order to schedule a visit.

Click here to request a virtual visit!