Cyber-Cosmos: A New Citizen Science Concept in A Dark Sky Destination

TL;DR

This paper introduces Cyber-Cosmos, a citizen science initiative using digital telescopes to promote dark sky conservation and space science education during the COVID pandemic in Portugal.

Contribution

It presents the first continuous pedagogical and citizen science application of smart telescopes in a dark sky tourism context during a pandemic.

Findings

Successful training of students in deep-sky observation

Enhanced citizen engagement in dark sky preservation

Potential for sustainable astrotourism development

Abstract

Astrotourism and related citizen science activities are becoming a major trend of a sustainable, high-quality tourism segment, core elements to the protection of Dark skies in many countries. In the Summer of 2020, in the middle of COVID pandemics, we started an initiative to train young students - Cyber-Cosmos - using an Unistellar eVscope, a smart, compact and user-friendly digital telescope that offers unprecedented opportunities for deep-sky observation and citizen science campaigns. Sponsored by the Ci\^encia Viva Summer program, this was probably the first continuous application of this equipment in a pedagogical and citizen-science context, and in a pandemic context. Pampilhosa da Serra, home to a certified Dark Sky destination (Aldeias do Xisto) in central Portugal, was the chosen location for this project, where we expect astrotourism and citizen science to flourish and contribute to space sciences education.