Information about Astronomy in Motion

Astronomy in Motion is a pilot project currently funded through a NASA IDEA grant.

PI: Kimberly Dow, HEAD

Public Outreach Through Public Transportation

ABSTRACT

We have produced two car-card advertising posters on astronomical themes for display on the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority's (MBTA) ''Red Line'' subway. The posters, developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Publications Department, Park Transit Displays, and Toast Graphics, use full-color space mission photos and eye-catching graphics to pose a basic question about astronomy and/or the space sciences. The intent is to heighten public interest and appreciation of astronomy among general audiences. During Fall 1995, 150 copies of the posters (in English and in Spanish) appeared on subway trains and simultaneously were distributed to Boston Public Schools. This mailing included supplementary information about each poster, suggested science-oriented field trips in the Boston area, and a list of information available to students, teachers, and parents.

The first poster "The Sun" (El Sol), appeared on the Red, Green, and Blue lines during September and October 1995. The WWW companion, is enhanced for use with Netscape 1.1. It is a resource of multimedia information designed to accompany the mailings and posters. The companion booklet features introductory material on the Sun as a star and its role in the Solar System, a list of books, WWW sites, and Boston Area astronomy events/clubs, plus several activities geared towards allowing students to make measurements of the Sun's size and gain a greater understanding of the Sun's effects on the Earth.

The second poster, "Jupiter," appeared on the Red, Green and Blue lines in November-December 1995. It will also have its own WWW companion.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please contact the Astronomy in Motion project team at STAR