Whether it’s reading this deep dive into all things other worldly or just living through 2020 that has you ready to get you interstellar travel on, the unfortunate reality is that you’re going to have to wait for technology to catch up with your aspirations. While you wait, though, you can still get a taste of space with some of the ground-breaking, intriguing citizen science opportunities below.
Once you’ve browsed the list, found the one for you, and given it your best shot, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Stardust@home
Search for interstellar dust particles in a large sample collected during NASA’s Stardust mission. Learn more.
Galaxy Zoo
Help researchers classify newly-discovered galaxies according to their shapes. If you’re quick, you could even be the first person to lay eyes one of them! Learn more.
GLOBE Observer: Land Cover
Satellites can see a lot of the planet from space. But they need a little help mapping out some of the smaller details. That’s where you come in! Learn more.
The CREDO Project
Play a small role in unraveling the mystery of dark matter with nothing more than your smart phone. Learn more.
World Moon Project
Students from all over the world are asked to observe the moon and identify patterns to gain a deeper understanding about the moon’s appearance. Learn more.
CosmoQuest Citizen Science Projects
Analyze high resolution photos of Mars, The Moon, and Mercury to help scientists identify interesting places to explore and map out safe landing spots for future missions. Learn more.
Target Asteroids!
Help scientists track and study asteroids and other near-earth objects. This project may appeal more to TIPsters who are already involved in astronomy, as access to a telescope is required. Learn more.