Surveying Aesthetics & Astronomy: FullDome programs A Project Exploring the Public’s Perception of Research & & Research for digital planetariums Astronomical Images and the Science Within Applications Kimberly Kowal Arcand Lisa F. Smith Chandra X-ray Center, Smithsonian University of Otago Astrophysical Observatory [email protected] [email protected] Megan Watzke Jeffrey K. Smith Chandra X-ray Center/SAO University of Otago [email protected] [email protected] Summary Key Words Every year hundreds of astronomical images are released to the general public from the many telescopes both on the ground and in space that observe the Duration: 34 min. Astronomy This show takes audiences on a tour of the major Visualisation Universe. These images cover both data gathered at visible wavelengths astronomical milestones of the last 3.000 years. Outreach and other phenomena at wavelengths that cannot be detected by the human Best Practices eye, so that the entire electromagnetic spectrum is represented. The release Aesthetics of astronomical images raises major questions about the dissemination and communication of that knowledge, including: how do non-experts (i.e., The Birth of the the public) perceive these images? In 2008, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Solar System Observatory began a unique research study — dubbed the Aesthetics & Astronomy (A&A) project — to examine the perception of multi-wavelength astronomical imagery and the effects of the various scientific and artistic choices in processing astronomical data. This article provides a brief synopsis of the results of the initial A&A study and its possible implications for astronomy outreach professionals. This article concludes with an overview of the latest Duration: 21 min. This amazing movie takes you on a trip to the very study (in progress, 2010). beginning of the creation of the Solar System. Aesthetics is the study of how human beings react in a sensory and emotional fashion to the things we encounter in life, especially as being appealing or not Chronicle of appealing. (Smith & Smith, 2010) a Journey to Earth Duration: 22 min. Discover our galaxy through the eyes of an interga- Introduction capture the Universe not only with the Every year, hundreds of astronomical lactic traveller looking for a place to habitat. narrow range of wavelengths that humans images are released to the public by tel- Aesthetics — from a psychological per- can detect with their eyes, but also with escopes of all kinds both on the ground spective — is the study of all things beauti- radio, infrared, X-ray electromagnetic and in space. This represents a consider- ful, whether art or not, and all things art, radiation and more. From small telescopes able investment — in both human and whether beautiful or not. wielded by amateurs to multi-billion dollar monetary terms — by the astronomical English adaptation and sound track observatories controlled by professionals, community. A small cottage industry, so to by Loch Ness Productions Astronomy is one of the most visual of astronomy has the capacity to lure us in by speak, straddling the worlds of astronomy the sciences. Modern astronomy images the sheer aesthetics of its data. and science communication has grown to Contact: Alexander Zaragoza - [email protected] - tel. (+34) 933 323 000 - Barcelona, Spain • Surveying Aesthetics & Astronomy • CAPjournal, No. 10 December 2010 • Page 13 www.antares-fulldome.com • Surveying Aesthetics & Astronomy • CAPjournal, No. 10 December 2010 • Page 15 What changes did we make? First, we pages with click-tracking methods to astrophysicists — view the images. This added bulleted text for each new image, count the user clicks per question and per type of information could be provided with interactive labelling and put “Wikipedia- image, and to compare totals. We have images in the future by having a “rollover” style” links in the body of the text. Each of also created a similar implementation for on the image that annotates, “Here is these changes came out of the feedback a series of print products that includes what astronomers see…”, or by including we received during the online survey and posters featuring multi-wavelength astro- video or audio commentary from astrono- focus groups. nomical images (see Figure 3). Here, we mers, available as supplementary digital use the tried and true series of questions: material. The next, more involved implementation of who, what, when, where, why and how to the A&A results was to develop an interac- engage the viewer in an approachable tive multi-wavelength image feature that manner. The text addresses some of the Current & future plans allows the user to move from one energy questions that were commonly asked dur- band to another, and ultimately “build” the ing the focus groups, including how the We are currently conducting a series of composite themselves. A sample of this images were made, the historical impor- studies, funded in part by a grant from can be found online . tance of the object, the location in the the Smithsonian Institution, that ask view- night sky, etc. Data collection and a brief ers to evaluate astronomical images with The feedback on these relatively simple summative evaluation of these six posters their corresponding descriptions across changes to the website from the public are being conducted to analyse the impact different media platforms: web, mobile, through our comment and rating sections of the improved features on the public’s traditional print and large format print. The Figure 1. Beautiful art or not? Left: Untitled, serigraph on paper by Gene Davis, 1974. Credit: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Florence Coulson Davis; has been overwhelmingly positive. Our understanding. images being used include some from the Right: Multi-wavelength NGC4696 in X-ray, Radio and Infrared, Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/KIPAC/S. Allen et al; Radio: NRAO/VLA/G. Taylor; Infrared: NASA/ESA/McMas- next step is to implement a questionnaire Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space ter Univ./W. Harris (used in 2008 online survey). on the Chandra website to ask users Other recommendations from the original Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, Solar specifically how these new features affect A&A findings showed that it is useful (and Dynamics Observatory and others. Work- produce and disseminate these images. • What misconceptions do the non- • Experts prefer text that is shorter and their enjoyment and comprehension of an not overwhelming for the reader) to pro- ing with museum professionals and sci- Today, more than ever, these images are experts have about astronomy and the to the point; novices prefer a more nar- image and the science behind it. vide colour code keys and physical scales ence centre partners we have produced shared via traditional media (like news- images they are exposed to? rative expository style for the text that in images intended for the public. Another a travelling exhibit of the material. Touring papers, magazines, books, prints, etc.), accompanies images. We have also built an interactive, question- useful finding has been that many novices through six locations in 2010, this exhibit planetariums and science museums, but based text script into the Chandra photo want to understand how the experts — the allows participants to access the astro- also through websites, Twitter and the Highlights from the 2008 • Providing a sense of scale to go with blogosphere, directly with the public. study objects is helpful for comprehension at all levels of expertise. But the question is: how good are we at It was a pleasant surprise, when over what we are intending to do? 8000 usable responses were collected • Experts and novices view space in just over a week in the online survey. images very differently. Novices begin To our knowledge, there has never been The full results from the project were with more of a sense of awe and won- a rigorous academic study to answer how accepted by the SAGE Journal of Science der, and focus first more on the aes- well our choices in our image pipelines — Communication in August 2010 (see Smith thetic qualities of the image. Experts from processing to dissemination — do in at al., 2010, for more detail on the meth- wonder how the image was produced, reaching the widest possible audience. We odology, data limitations, descriptive sta- what information is being presented in conceived the A&A to begin to tackle this tistics of the study and a full reference list). the image, and what the creators of the void. The original A&A study was designed image wanted to convey. to probe how effective these choices (or The online participants ranked themselves compromises) are when it comes to sci- along a scale from “novice” to “expert”. • Experts are much more likely to see ence versus aesthetics in astronomical There were some predictable differences blue as hot than are novices; about images. among the groups. For example, the nov- 80% of novices see red as hot com- ices indicated that variations in terms of pared to 60% of experts. The A&A team consists of a unique com- presentation of colour, explanation and bination of professional astronomy com- scale affected their comprehension of the municators, astrophysicists and aesthetics imagery. Those who identified themselves Putting the preliminary results experts from the discipline of psychology. as expert, on the other hand, wanted into practice In late 2008, the A&A team conducted both shorter, more technical explanations (with online studies (see Figure 2) and a series scale information). Other less obvious Since this A&A group is led by members of in-person focus groups. The research results also emerged, including that the of the Chandra X-ray Observatory’s Edu- questions were designed to test: novices said that their aesthetic enjoyment cation and Public Outreach (EPO) group increased solely based on their ability to we could implement the study’s results • How much do variations in terms of access the information in the accompany- almost immediately.