STARS: Science Through Astronomical Research of Stars (Citizen Sky)

September 1st, 2009 - August 31st, 2012 | PROJECT

The 2009 International Year of Astronomy coincides with the dimming and brightening of a variable star that can be seen with the naked eye. The American Association of Variable Star Observers and the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum are organizing a new citizen program called STARS (Science Through Astronomical Research) that engages 8,000 amateur astronomers and non-astronomers in measuring brightness changes in the star Epsilon Aurigae, analyzing their observational data, and developing and testing their own explanatory hypotheses. The goals of the project are to increase public understanding of science by involving citizens in active research on an accessible, yet enigmatic astronomical phenomenon, and disseminate lessons learned to other citizen science programs. A mixed methods evaluation study is monitoring the implementation and impact of the program. The project should (1) increase the number of non-astronomers who take up astronomy as a hobby, (2) increase the number of amateur astronomers who participate in other citizen science-related astronomical activities (for example, sky surveys), and (3) increase the number of non-science oriented citizens who become more interested in science. A research study is investigating how a large-scale informal citizen science project changes public understanding of scientific inquiry.

Project Website(s)

(no project website provided)

Project Products

Citizen Sky Final Evaluation Report
http://www.citizensky.org/

Team Members

Arne Henden, Principal Investigator, American Association of Variable Star Observers
Robert Stencel, Co-Principal Investigator, American Association of Variable Star Observers
Michael Raddick, Co-Principal Investigator, American Association of Variable Star Observers
Jennifer Borland, Evaluator, Rockman, et. al.
Aaron Price, Co-Principal Investigator, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Funders

Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0840188
Funding Amount: 864071

Tags

Audience: General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals | Scientists
Discipline: Space science
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Citizen Science Programs | Public Programs