Our public engagement staff took various approaches, previously practiced and new, to navigate to a shared goal: making astronomy accessible to all.
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The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse grabbed headlines and drove millions to gather across the country along its multistate trajectory — and our public engagement staff were on hand to support NASA-led events. In the days leading up to and on April 8, our staff members shared their knowledge about solar eclipses and the incredible science of the James Webb Space Telescope in Washington, D.C., and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where approximately 50,000 eclipse enthusiasts gathered.
Later in the summer, our public outreach scientists and NASA colleagues shared Webb’s discoveries and infrared science capabilities at the Glacier and Olympic national parks with hundreds of visitors on our beautiful public lands. And, as they do annually, our staff joined local events in and regional events around Maryland to share the exciting science of both Webb and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Staying Connected to the Data
Earlier this year, our team released a major update to Space Telescope Live, presenting new ways for users to find out what astronomical objects and regions of the sky Hubble and Webb have observed over the entirety of their operations. Since its launch, the site has garnered more than 2 million page views, and user engagement is high.
While information about past observations has always been part of the site, new calendar and timeline tools bring those details to the forefront. Now, users can ask, “What was Hubble looking at on my birthday?” and “What was Webb observing when I took my final exam?” and find the answers with a few quick clicks.
Space Telescope Live also has an accessibility-first design, built for all audiences. The team constructed a framework that allows people who use screen readers to easily navigate and orient themselves on the site. Users receive announcements of key information, such as which object is being viewed and its location in the sky. The Space Telescope Live system leverages our role as science operations center for both Hubble and Webb, where their data is first captured.
Going Beyond the Page
Our scientists and designers produced 3D visualizations of multiple telescope images, including the Penguin and the Egg (Arp 142), JADES Fly-Through, and the Pillars of Creation, the last of which was formally released by NASA’s Universe of Learning. These videos explore their target’s structure, an aspect not easily gleaned from a still image, and provide viewers with a mental model.
While the Pillars of Creation was the team’s most ambitious visualization to date, it upheld the collaborative spirit that all visualizations encompass: The group, composed of scientists, image developers, 3D artists, and video editors, consulted with an external subject matter expert and experimented with new techniques to showcase the Pillars of Creation. Viewers embark on a roller coaster-like journey that starts by zooming in on wider views of the Eagle Nebula before diving in and enjoying a smooth, up close tour of the Pillars of Creation. This awe-inspiring experience is just one highlight of NASA’s Universe of Learning, a program composed of a multi-institution team that includes scientific, engineering, and educator experts who seek to connect curious learners of all ages to astrophysics through creative projects and engaging resources.
Our public outreach staff also pursued ways beyond the screen to share exciting science from the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Our staff leveraged their background in creating tactile experiences for Hubble and Webb to produce a tactile prototype for Roman. Since Roman is a survey mission, the team adopted a different layout and additional technologies, including LEDs to indicate areas of interest, and audio cues through buttons and sensors, to help bring Roman’s vast surveys and science to life.
Behind each product and milestone achieved this year is a team with diverse skillsets and unique perspectives: scientists, educators, writers, designers, website content managers, software developers, and news and social media specialists. This team of many makes it possible to bring astronomical discoveries to the public, and it is the public that inspires us to continue our pursuit of making the universe accessible to all.
Pillars of Creation Visualization
The AstroViz Project of NASA’s Universe of Learning created the Pillars of Creation visualization, the team’s most ambitious undertaking to date. Dive into this 3D multiwavelength exploration of the region and print your own 3D model of the Pillars of Creation.