Outreach and Public Engagement

Kilonova Seekers is GOTO’s citizen science project, hosted on Zooniverse – the world’s largest citizen science platform. Volunteers examine real GOTO images in near real-time and help identify transient astronomical events such as kilonovae, supernovae, and other cosmic explosions.

The project launched in July 2023 and has attracted thousands of volunteers from around the globe, with the community contributing to both transient detection and the training of GOTO’s automated machine-learning classifiers. New data arrives from the telescopes every 15 minutes (weather permitting), meaning volunteers often see the data before we do! In February 2026 we launched Generation 3, introducing a multi-class workflow that asks volunteers to classify not just whether a source is real, but what kind of event they may be seeing.

Multi Messenger is an authentic research project for 15 to 18 year olds in the UK developed as a collaboration between members of the GOTO team and the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS). Participants are introduced to the concept of multi-messenger astronomy through curriculum-linked reading and presentations before being trained in difference imaging techniques and lightcurve plotting and interpretation. They are then given access to a curated set of GOTO image data, including real and bogus objects, and supported to develop their own research ideas and techniques to analyse these. On completion of the projects, resources are provided to help with production of posters and presentations for submission to the annual series of IRIS summer conferences. Those participating in the project therefore experience the entire process of scientific training and research as well as the excitement of sharing their own discoveries by discussing them with their peers and professional scientists at these national events.

https://researchinschools.org/