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| Paper: |
The Aesthetics of Astronomy: Exploring the Public's Perception of Astronomy Images and the Science Within |
| Volume: |
442, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems XX (ADASSXX) |
| Page: |
179 |
| Authors: |
Arcand, K. K.; Watzke, M.; Smith, L. F.; Smith, J. K. |
| Abstract: |
Every year, hundreds of astronomical images are released to the public via
the efforts of professional education and public outreach (EPO)
specialists, as well as from scientists themselves and amateur astronomers.
Each of these images represents a variety of decisions from the individual
or team that assembled it. These choices include cropping, color,
contextualization, and many more. But how effective are these choices in
both engaging the public's interest and communicating scientific
information to them? In 2008, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
began a unique research study — dubbed the Aesthetics & Astronomy (A&A)
project — to examine these very questions. The study included images from
across the electromagnetic spectrum and probed the effects of the
scientific and artistic choices in processing astronomical data. This paper
provides an overview of the results of the preliminary 2008 A&A study and
includes a synopsis of the direction of the ongoing 2010 study. |
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