Many thanks to all who participated in our 2017 Aesthetics & Astronomy survey. Below is the abstract for our latest paper on the “Many Faces of Cassiopeia A”. The paper is open access and may be read in full at the URL provided. Please email us if you have any questions on the paper. We look forward to launching a new study in 2018, so stay tuned.
Capturing the many faces of an exploded star: communicating complex and evolving astronomical data
Lisa F. Smith, Kimberly K. Arcand, Randall K. Smith, Jay Bookbinder and Jeffrey K. Smith
This study explored how different presentations of an object in deep space affect understanding, engagement, and aesthetic appreciation. A total of n = 2,502 respondents to an online survey were randomly assigned to one of 11 versions of Cassiopeia A, comprising 6 images and 5 videos ranging
from 3 s to approximately 1 min. Results suggest that alternative types of images can and should be used, provided they are accompanied by explanations. Qualitative data indicated that explanations should include information about colors used, size, scale, and location of the object. The results are discussed in terms of science communication to the public in the face of increasing use of technology.
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