Seeing in the Dark Internet telescope captures imagination of students

The producers of Seeing in the Dark, the captivating new documentary from acclaimed science writer Timothy Ferris, have unveiled an Internet telescope as part of an educational outreach program associated with the film. Located high in the mountains of New Mexico and controlled over the Internet, the telescope allows students around the world to request images of galaxies tens of millions of light years away in a matter of minutes.

Featuring never-before seen astronomical photography, stunning special effects and a memorable original music score by Mark Knopfler and Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits, Seeing in the Dark charts Ferris' own life-long devotion to stargazing and profiles the incredible work being done by other amateur astronomers.

Requests for images have come in from students around the globe – including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, and the U.K. – and from 42 U.S. states as well as Puerto Rico. The participants range from elementary level to post-graduate, from public, private, charter, parochial and home schools.

"Astronomy has long been a gateway to science," says Ferris. "Our film and Internet telescope are meant to serve as a timeless introduction to stargazing."