Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach (WUCAO)

宇宙之窗天文学外展中心 (WUCAO)

• 批准号: 1839157
• 负责人: Charles Mattias Mountain
• 金额: $ 449.96万
• 依托单位: Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2018-10-01 至 2024-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1839157&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Windows; Universe; Center; Astronomy; Outreach

With this project, Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) will transform the recently retired McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope into an astronomy visualization and presentation center. The newly renovated McMath-Pierce facility will be fully integrated with the existing Kitt Peak Visitor Center (KPVC) and the combined operation will be called the Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach. Two astronomy data visualization systems -- Science On A Sphere (SOS) and GeoDome Digital Planetarium -- along with interactive exhibits and an astronomy classroom will be installed. Both GeoDome and SOS are equipped to take astronomical imagery and modify it for spherical or hemispherical projection. The images and animations developed at KPNO can be shared with other facilities employing both SOS and the GeoDome (currently over 225 such facilities worldwide). The goals of this project are to develop the International Astronomy Outreach Center (IAOC), run by KPVC, as a functioning, self-sustaining astronomy outreach center, and expand the focus of the programs to include all NSF-supported astronomy. The benefits of such a program include: 1) significantly improved capability of the KPVC to present more engaging astronomy-based experiences to onsite guests, and 2) extended reach beyond those who travel to Kitt Peak.This project provides a new, cost-effective model for conversion of an outdated science facility to a self-supporting educational facility that communicates the process and results of modern astronomical research. The long history of major investment in the facility will continue to generate returns as the facility is preserved and transformed into a new 21st-century astronomy outreach center using research-based best practices in science visualization and communication. Using the Science On A Sphere (SOS) and GeoDome Digital Planetarium platforms, Kitt Peak gains a highly capable facility to serve its visitors in new ways, while all NSF-funded astronomy facilities gain new global exposure through astronomy visualizations to public audiences without major investments. The Center will acquire imagery from NSF-funded astronomy and astrophysics facilities from around the globe, and then transform those files into data sets for presentation on both SOS and the GeoDome, and for distribution to all so-equipped sites for immediate display. This enables a major expansion and enhancement of existing programs and the creation of new programs. Guests to KPNO will have a wider window on modern astronomy, and regional and Tribal schools will benefit from new STEM education experiences. Visitors to museums and parks elsewhere in the US and other countries will see astronomy results created in this new, far-reaching facility displayed in their SOS theaters and GeoDome planetaria. Finally, this project preserves a venerable and iconic solar telescope, which, although eclipsed by the new capabilities of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, is useful for public education activities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

通过这个项目，基特峰国家天文台 (KPNO) 将把最近退役的麦克马斯-皮尔斯太阳望远镜改造成天文学可视化和演示中心。 新装修的麦克马斯-皮尔斯设施将与现有的基特峰游客中心（KPVC）完全整合，合并后的设施将被称为“宇宙之窗天文学外展中心”。 将安装两个天文学数据可视化系统——Science On A Sphere (SOS) 和 GeoDome Digital Planetarium——以及互动展览和天文学教室。 GeoDome 和 SOS 都可以拍摄天文图像并将其修改为球形或半球形投影。 KPNO 开发的图像和动画可以与同时使用 SOS 和 GeoDome 的其他设施共享（目前全球有超过 225 个此类设施）。该项目的目标是将由 KPVC 运营的国际天文学外展中心 (IAOC) 发展为一个运作良好、自我维持的天文学外展中心，并将项目的重点扩大到包括所有 NSF 支持的天文学。此类计划的好处包括：1) 显着提高了 KPVC 的能力，为现场客人提供更具吸引力的基于天文的体验，以及 2) 将影响范围扩大到前往基特峰的游客之外。该项目提供了一种新的、具有成本效益的方式将过时的科学设施转变为自给自足的教育设施的模型，以传达现代天文学研究的过程和结果。该设施的重大投资历史悠久，将继续产生回报，因为该设施将得到保留，并利用基于研究的科学可视化和传播最佳实践改造成一个新的 21 世纪天文学推广中心。利用 Science On A Sphere (SOS) 和 GeoDome 数字天文馆平台，Kitt Peak 获得了一个功能强大的设施，以新的方式为游客提供服务，而所有 NSF 资助的天文设施都通过向公众观众提供天文学可视化而获得了新的全球曝光度，而无需进行重大投资。该中心将从美国国家科学基金会资助的全球天文学和天体物理设施获取图像，然后将这些文件转换成数据集，以便在 SOS 和 GeoDome 上展示，并分发到所有配备如此设备的站点以立即显示。 这使得现有程序的重大扩展和增强以及新程序的创建成为可能。 KPNO 的客人将有一个更广阔的了解现代天文学的窗口，地区和部落学校将受益于新的 STEM 教育体验。参观美国和其他国家其他地方的博物馆和公园的游客将在他们的 SOS 剧院和 GeoDome 天文馆中看到在这个影响深远的新设施中创建的天文学成果。 最后，该项目保留了一座古老而标志性的太阳望远镜，尽管它被 Daniel K. Inouye 太阳望远镜的新功能所掩盖，但它对于公共教育活动很有用。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并被认为值得通过以下方式获得支持：使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。