600+
Active African Citizen Scientists
30 +
Provisional Asteroids
5+
Projects
40+
African countries with active teams
Welcome to the
PACS e-Lab
(Pan-African Citizen Science e-Lab)
Our aim is to promote hands-on activities in astronomy & space science through citizen science and Soft Astronomy research in Africa as a means of advancing space exploration, and enhancing Astronomy education and outreach.
Miracle Chibuzor Marcel
Founder & Director of
PACS e-Lab
Welcome to the Pan-African Citizen Science e-Lab (PACS e-Lab) platform, Africa’s leading hub for Astronomy Research, Education, and Outreach. Our mission is to engage the public in hands-on activities in space science and astronomy, including space enthusiasts, amateur astronomers, and more. Our initiatives promote awareness of space science and astronomy across Africa, helping to enhance knowledge and skills in these fields. We are an inclusive and diverse community with a network that spans Africa and beyond. PACS e-Lab offers African teachers, students, and astronomy enthusiasts opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research, fostering scientific growth and discovery across the continent.
Asteroid Search: This project is run by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) and PACS e-Lab is their biggest partner in Africa. The project is also a prerequisite for all projects. In this area, individuals forming a group are trained on how to use the Astrometrica program to search for asteroids with practice datasets. They learn how to analyze these datasets, prepare a Minor Planet Center Report, and submit it back to IASC. PACS e-Lab then proceeds to register these groups on IASC’s Pan African Asteroid Search Campaign group to receive fresh data to analyze.
The campaign is monthly, and each team receives a certificate of participation from IASC. .A week later, their reports are evaluated by IASC for true or false asteroid reports. If they are true, they become preliminary discoveries. These will be further evaluated for six months to one year to determine if they are real asteroids. If they are, they become provisional discoveries and will be given provisional numbers and cataloged. After some years, the team will be able to name their discoveries.
Additionally, the asteroid research citizen science project is part of NASA’s planetary defense program, which aims to monitor asteroids that can potentially hit Earth in the future. Further details about this project, Check Pan-African Asteroid Search Campaign Page
Exoplanet & Photometry: This project is conducted by NASA Exoplanet Watch, and PACS e-Lab is contributing by involving African citizen scientists. The initiative serves as a follow-up study to previously identified planets by the TESS and Kepler missions. Its primary objective is to contribute to the detection of exoplanets and refine the Mid Transit Time for these celestial bodies.
This refinement is crucial for upcoming missions involving the James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Participants receive training on observing and capturing images of stars using the Micro Observatory (MOBS) web telescopes, focusing on stars with potential exoplanets. Additionally, they learn to conduct photometry using the EXOTIC programs to generate a light curve. The acquired skills also include submitting observation reports to the American Association of Variable Star Observers. Importantly, this activity is not time-limited and can be undertaken whenever the team has available free time. For more details, check out the Exoplanet & photometry
Double-Star Astrometry: This research project is designed to introduce our citizen scientists to entry-level astronomy research, ultimately leading to a peer-reviewed publication. PACS e-Lab in collaboration with Dr. Rachel Freed, the founder of the Institute for Student Astronomical Research, U.S.A (InStAR) has developed this project to enable our citizen scientists to study double stars without requiring advanced astronomy knowledge.
The research involves observing double stars to update their position angles and separations in the Washington Double Star Catalog. Participants will gather data from Vizier and use historical records of the systems. They will work with AstroImageJ and Afterglow Access software for analysis. For more details, please see the Double-Star Astrometry page.
Astrophoto Visual Development (APVD): Unlike our other research-based projects, this is a skill-building activity focused on teaching amateur astronomers how to process deep-space images to create stunning visuals. Participants are trained to retrieve archival datasets from sources such as the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and Las Cumbres Observatory.
They learn to acquire these datasets and process them using software like Photoshop, FITS Liberator, Siril, GIMP, and others to produce vibrant, colorful images. Further details about this project can be found on the Astrophoto Visual Development page.
ARISS Event: This is PACS e-Lab’s latest project, offering African teachers, students, and space enthusiasts a unique opportunity to connect directly with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through amateur radio, just like students in developed countries. PACS e-Lab’s application for this exciting initiative was recently accepted, and plans are underway to host the event between January and June 2025.
Beyond this upcoming event, PACS e-Lab is committed to making ARISS a recurring opportunity on the African continent, fostering sustained interest in space science and exploration. This initiative will allow participants to ask questions, learn about life and research on the ISS, and gain first-hand insights from astronauts. By bringing this experience to African classrooms, PACS e-Lab aims to inspire a new generation of students and educators in STEM fields, strengthening Africa’s presence in global space science and exploration activities. For more information and updates, stay tuned to our ARISS Event page.
Telescope Donation Project: In our Telescope Donation Project, we collaborate with international donors to provide telescopes to various groups across the continent working with us. This support enables these groups to conduct public outreach, educational programs, and training sessions as they continue to participate in our projects. For more information, please visit our Telescope Donation page.
Conclusion
The English language is our main mode of communication; however, we have worked with many individuals who have reproduced our materials in French, Arabic, or other local languages that are spoken in Africa and they would like to connect with you.
We offer live training sessions, but in cases where the internet connection is poor or costly, or you do not prefer live training, we will recommend our recorded tutorials to you.
The ability to learn from recorded tutorials is an added advantage to you.
The amount of data subscription you will exhaust, by participating in our program, is less than the amount you would spend on social media. So, working with us will help you reduce the amount of time and resources you spend on social media and make you useful to science.
All our projects are computer-based and Windows OS is preferred.
We have no restrictions on age, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
We regularly add new projects. We hope that you succeed in the ones we have for you.
Good luck!
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
South Africa
In 2021, Bongiwe Mkhabela from South Africa while in her finals at high school led her classmates in the asteroid research endeavor. She is now a college student in the University of Pretoria studying mining engineering.
Nigeria
Chidozie (left) and Akintola (right), both PhD physics candidates in the US, shared in their combined discovery of the asteroid 2021 OF15. In 2021, they participated as part of the Astronomers without Borders Nigeria team.
Ghana
Ms. Sarah Abotsi-Masters led her Ghanaian team, PRAGSAC in 2021 and made a provisional discovery of asteroid 2021 PV141.
Rwanda
Dr. Joseph Ntahompagaze is a lecturer and a researcher in the physics department of the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology. Since 2021, he has been active and has led his team in the asteroid hunting exercise.
Togo
Mr. Christian Gbaba, an amateur astronomer from Togo, led his team, the Association of Togolese Astronomers in 2021 and they discovered two asteroids: 2021 VG27 and 2021 VU48.
Cameroon
Ms. Tengwi Omela (she/her), who was the Vice President of the Astronomy club of the University of Buea, has been and still is active in engaging her team in citizen science research since 2021, and even to this day, she is a graduate.
Kenya
In 2021, Mr. Dennis led his team, the Space Partnerships and Research Company in asteroid research and one of them detected an asteroid with the provisional number 2021 VD60. They joined and worked as a team from their different locations in Kenya.
Ivory Coast
Dr. Abdel Aziz who is the President of Association Ivoirienne d’Astronomie, since 2022 has been utilizing citizen science as a tool for education in Ivory coast.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Meet Mr. Joseph Mafuka participating in the asteroid research with some of his team members from the Astro-Club Kongo Central. They have been active since 2022
Ivory Coast
Asteroid Research Training Session of Dr.Aziz's students in Ivory Coast
Madagascar
Mr. Andoniaina Rajaonarivelo is the co-president of the Haikintana Astronomy Association, dedicated to promoting astronomy in Madagascar. Since 2022, he has been leading his team in asteroid research efforts.
Presentation of certificates of achievement by Mr. Andoniaina Rajaonarivelo to his team for the discovery of the asteroid 2022 UJ79.
Nigeria
Nigerian Citizen Astronomers over the past 3 years have been the pioneers of citizen science in Africa. They also have recorded the most discovery of asteroids
Kenya
More participation from the Amateur astronomical Society of Kenya led by Samuel.
Zimbabwe
Students from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe have actively engaged in asteroid research since 2022. The team, led by Ms. Thobekile Ngwane, is currently conducting Masters studies with a research focus on asteroids and instrumentation.
Republic of Benin
Amateur astronomers from the Republic of Benin have actively engaged in asteroid research since 2021. The team is led by Prudence.
Mozambique
Amateur astronomers from Mozambique have been actively engaged in asteroid research since 2021. The team, led by Edson, has achieved notable accomplishments, which have been publicized on international news stations and blogs
Botswana
Since 2021, students from the University of Botswana have been actively involved in asteroid research. The research team, under the leadership of Molly, is contributing to advancements in the field.
Senegal
Meet Dr. Salma Sylla, the first female Senegalese to attain a PhD degree in Astrophysics. She and her team of students have been participating in asteroid hunting since 2022, and it is an honor for us to collaborate with such a rare and distinguished figure.
Morocco
Meet Ms. Regaibi Salma is one of our team leaders from Morocco who engages students from her association in citizen science research. She is the president of the Steps into Space Association
Uganda
Ms. Rose is one of our team leaders from Uganda. Since 2021, she and a team of students and educators from the National Curriculum Development Centre have been participating in asteroid searches and have made a provisional discovery of asteroid 2022 HK11
Sudan
Meet our citizen science team from Sudan, led by Ahmed Saeed. They have been active in this exercise since 2021.
Malawi
Our Malawian team, Celestial Explorers, led by Bauleni Bvumbwe, was the first to receive a telescope from PACS e-Lab. The team is currently using it for astronomy outreach and school visits in Malawi while remaining actively involved in our projects. The telescope was donated by Jean Pierre Grootaerd.
Uganda
Our Ugandan team, National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) , represented by Mr. Santos and Ms. Rose, received a telescope from PACS e-Lab. The team is currently using it for Teachers' training program, astronomy outreach and school visits in Uganda while remaining actively involved in our projects. The telescope was donated by Jean Pierre Grootaerd.
South Africa
Meet our three African citizen Astronomers credited with the discovery of Asteroid 2023 GQ10. The trio are college students from different universities in South Africa. They have been participating in the asteroid search under the Blue Crane Space Astronomy & Astrophysics Department of the University of Pretoria in South Africa, under the supervision of Keketso Qhomane.
Congratulations to them!
Lesotho
Meet Keketso Qhomane, our finest citizen astronomer from the Kingdom of Lesotho. He has a passion for astronomy, and we have donated this Celestron NexStar 60 GT Refracting Telescope to him so he can enhance astronomy in his country.
Botswana
Meet Ms. Molly Kgobathe, the IAU National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) for Botswana. She is passionate about astronomy, and we have donated this Celestron NexStar 60 GT Refracting Telescope to her to support astronomy outreach in Botswana.
Lesotho
We celebrate Ms. Rorisang Mahomo from the Kingdom of Lesotho for her discovery of Asteroid 2023 QY50. She is a student at the University of Pretoria and participates in asteroid searches through BlueCraneSpace, a STEM society for students at the university
Zimbabwe
Meet Ms. Thobekile Ngwane, co-founder and president of the Zimbabwe Astronomical Society. She is passionate about astronomy, and we have donated a Celestron NexStar 60 GT 60mm Refractor Telescope to her to support astronomy outreach in Zimbabwe.
citizen science NETWORKS in africa
