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reach beyond those who travel to Kitt Peak.This project provides a new, cost-effective model for conversion of an outdated science facility to a self-supporting educational facility that communicates the process and results of modern astronomical research.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）将把最近退休的McMath-Pierce太阳能望远镜转变为天文学可视化和演示中心。 新近翻新的McMath-Pierce设施将与现有的Kitt Peak游客中心（KPVC）完全集成，合并的操作将被称为宇宙天文学外展宇宙中心的窗户。 将安装两个天文学数据可视化系统 - 领域的科学（SOS）和GEODOME数字天文馆 - 将安装交互式展览以及一个天文学教室。 Geodome和SOS都有能力摄取天文图像并将其修改为球形或半球形投影。 可以在KPNO开发的图像和动画可以与使用SOS和GEODOME的其他设施共享（目前在全球225个这样的设施）。该项目的目标是开发由KPVC运营的国际天文学外展中心（IAOC），作为一个功能齐全，自我维持的天文学外展中心，并扩大了该计划的重点，以包括所有NSF支持的天文学。此类计划的好处包括：1）显着提高了KPVC向现场客人提供更具吸引力的基于天文学的体验的能力，以及2）超越前往Kitt Peak的人的扩展范围。该项目提供了一种新的，具有成本效益的模型，用于将过时的科学设施转换为过时的科学设施，以将自我支持的教育设施转换为自我支持的教育设施，以沟通了现代化的现代研究和现代天文学的研究。使用基于研究的科学可视化和交流中的基于研究的最佳实践，将设施保存并改造为新的21世纪天文学外展中心，因此该设施的重大投资的悠久历史将继续产生回报。 Kitt Peak在Sphere（SOS）和Geodome Digital Gareatarium平台上使用科学，获得了一种强大的设施，以新的方式为访客提供服务，而所有NSF资助的天文学设施都通过天文学的可视化来获得新的全球敞口，这是通过对公众的观众进行的，无需进行重大投资。该中心将从全球各地的NSF资助的天文学和天体物理学设施中获取图像，然后将这些文件转换为SOS和GEODOME上的数据集，并将其分发到所有所谓的站点以立即显示。 这可以实现现有程序的重大扩展和增强，并创建新程序。到KPNO的客人将有一个更广阔的现代天文学窗口，区域和部落学校将受益于新的STEM教育经验。美国和其他国家 /地区其他地方的博物馆和公园的游客将看到在其SOS剧院和地球剧院中展示的新的，深远的设施中创建的天文学结果。 最后，该项目保留了一个古老而标志性的太阳能望远镜，尽管它被丹尼尔·K·伊诺耶（Daniel K. Inouye）太阳能望远镜的新能力所掩盖，但对公共教育活动非常有用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用该基金会的知识优点和广泛效果来评估NSF的法定任务，并通过评估值得进行评估。