The Other Worlds Project: Students Detect Exoplanets Using the MicroObservatory Online Telescopes

One of the outstanding goals of science education is to modernize the science classroom by engaging students in cutting-edge science. The availability of online telescopes, such as MicroObservatory, makes it possible for students to participate in one of the most exciting of current research frontiers: the search for extrasolar planets. Here we report the successful detection of transiting exoplanets by 862 students from middle and high schools in seven states, as part of the Other Worlds project. The project advances a number of educational goals, including improving students' science inquiry skills