Providing hands-on learning experiences for students in space-related education programs is a challenge and particularly so for pro- grams that are offered 100% online. The American Public University System (APUS) offers Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs in Space Studies that are delivered completely online. To date, 559 graduate students and 405 undergraduate students from around the globe have completed degrees since the inception of our program. The unique aspect of our program is its emphasis on the use of astronomical observations to provide opportunities for students to participate in authentic research opportunities and to develop instrumentation for their research. APUS operates a 24-inch Planewave robotic telescope fitted with an SBIG STX-16803 charge-couple device camera, located in Charles Town, West Virginia. This instrument is an integral component of the undergraduate and graduate education in space studies that we provide. Currently, we use this instrument in a supernova search program where students process images of several dozen galaxies obtained from a periodic survey of the sky and then compare the observations to reference images using blink-comparison software. This program is an excellent research opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate space studies students. Students in the leadership group research, design, and test components of the supernova search program; under faculty direction, they engage in evaluating software and supervise small groups of students who analyze and study the images as they search for possible supernova events. This opportunity supports their classroom learning and provides a means for all students in the program to participate in meaningful scientific research. Currently, 177 galaxies in six different regions of the sky are regularly observed in this program.