The Aesthetics and Astronomy Project is a new effort from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to explore how beautiful scientific images can better be used to present complex ideas and provoke a sense of wonder. The multidisciplinary research team includes astrophysicists, astronomers, science communicators, and psychologists. From the Harvard Crimson:
The popularity of websites such as NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day shows that celestial images are compelling to the general public, but A&A researchers initially thought that this attention was solely aesthetic in nature.
The results of surveys and focus groups conducted by A&A researchers, however, contradicted this theory. People responded more positively to images that were accompanied by an explanation, suggesting curiosity about the nature of the celestial event or object pictured, according to Smith.
“There is a devaluing when you separate out function and form,” Arcand said.
Aesthetics & Astronomy Project
"Researchers Merge Art and Science" (Harvard Crimson)
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