Remote Observing and Beyond: Student Research and Analysis Programs at the Dark Ridge Observatory

Students that utilize remote observatories to conduct their scientific research are often at the mercy and whims of the observatory owner/ operator. In today's growing arsenal of remote observatories, many have provided the use of their equipment for both research and astrophotography but for most remote sites the support ends there. At the Dark Ridge Observatory students are made a part of the entire observatory and observing process including data reduction, analysis and incorporation into scientific papers in refereed journals. At the Dark Ridge Observa-tory the student is guided through the nuances of the host equipment to achieve scientific accuracy for their measurements. The process provides mentoring for the student in the collection, reduction and understanding of the use of astronomical images in science