The National Aeronautics and Space Administration/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency (NASA/ESA/CSA) James Webb Space Telescope launched on 25 December 2021. After investing $10 billion USD and two decades of construction and testing, all eyes were on the mission to see what it would reveal about the cosmos. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, serves as Webb’s mission and science operations centre. As part of that role, STScI’s Office of Public Outreach leads the public engagement efforts for the mission, which includes preparing news releases. This article describes the multi-disciplinary efforts by STScI that went into developing and disseminating Webb’s first images and spectra.

Christine

Jaclyn

Claire

Hannah

Chris

Matthew

Margaret

Joseph

Quyen

Leah

Andi

Alexandra

Alyssa

Yessi

Timothy

Denise

L. Chad

Best Practices

Unfolding the Universe: First Images and Spectra from the James Webb Space Telescope

Our relationship to the sky is complex and encompasses heritage interpretation, protecting environments and the darkskies agenda. Creating transformative experiences that communicate the emotional values that underpin this relationshipoften proves difficult. In particular, the qualities that make heritage sites excellent places to immerse oneself in its skyscape –at-risk or remote locations – limit the number of people who can experience it. Knowledge exchange betweenpractitioners working at these sites and the public is essential for all stakeholders involved in astronomy communicationas this fosters a wider understanding and appreciation of the cosmos.

Daniel

Carolyn

Case Study

Immersive experiences to communicate sky heritage and dark skies

In this paper, we examine the exhibition of the Desert Stars VR, a component from the transmedia narrative Desert Stars,an outcome of the co-creation process between the Amanar project and the Saharawi community. The products of DesertStars were developed as part of the Amanar astronomy outreach project that aims to support and inspire the Sahrawicommunity using astronomy. We focus particularly on the reception of this VR experience by the Sahrawi audience duringthe FiSahara International Film Festival. Our analysis delves into the feedback from the Sahrawi participants, examininghow their reactions and interactions with the VR content reflect broader themes in scientific communication. We assess thesuccesses and challenges encountered throughout this project, providing insights into how these experiences can informfuture virtual reality applications in astronomy outreach. This discussion aims to contribute to a deeper understanding ofhow immersive technologies can be leveraged to enhance science communication and engage diverse audiences inmeaningful ways.

Felipe J.

Jorge

Andrea

Fabio

Sarah

Mohammed Ali

Lahsen Selki

Lala

Embarca

Sumaya Badi

Nayra

Diego

Demetrio

Mayte

GalileoMobile and the Amanar task force

Desert Stars VR: A case study on audience receptionof virtual reality experience to raise awareness ofthe Sahrawi traditional astronomical knowledgeand the Western Sahara conflict

The "Cascade Outreach Model in Astronomy Engagement” project, implemented during National Science Week 2023 inSouth Africa, was a collaborative initiative designed to ignite curiosity and foster a passion for astronomy among diversecommunities, particularly the youth. The project also highlighted potential career paths in STEM fields. Through strategicpartnerships with local education departments and the active involvement of dedicated outreach ambassadors – mostlyastronomy postgraduate students – the initiative expanded its reach across six of South Africa’s nine provinces.

Duduzile

The Cascade Outreach Model in astronomyengagement during National Science Week

This article focuses on developing feasible evaluation models for civic-led astronomy for development programmes in theGlobal South and, more specifically, astro-tourism initiatives. Using the case of the 3rd Astronomy Festival, implementedin Mexico by Tribu Cultura Astronómica (Tribu) in 2023 and 2024. We will describe the methodological approach, methodsand techniques used to develop an evaluation model that was feasible and adapted to local needs using the Theory ofChange (ToC).

Ana Magdalena

Research & Applications

Navigating new frontiers: Developing an evaluation modelfor a local and civic-led outreach project in Mexico, thecase of Tribu Cultura Astronómica’s Astronomy Festival

During a panel discussion at the Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) 2024 conference, the community reflectedon careers in astronomy communication, from profiles and networking to entry-level positions and career progression. Asthe community strives to professionalise the field of astronomy communication, it is imperative to find a definition as openand culturally sensitive as possible of what an “astronomy communicator” is, keeping in mind that people often come intothe field with more than one academic or practice background. This brings a wide variety of skills and interdisciplinaryteams essential to astronomy communication’s growth. Recognition, funding, accreditation, networking and support areamong the pillars the panellists identified that we should build upon to create a stronger and more sustainable astronomycommunication community.

Clauria

Explained in 60 Seconds

Explained in 60 Seconds: Astronomy communication careers and how to make them more sustainable

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and science communicators experienced a rapid and unprecedented transformation from in-person to online science communication activities. One of the advantages of online activities is now considered to be the ability to include a broader range of people in scientific activities, including women and ethnic minorities. In this report, we quantify the impact of the in-person or online communication mode on the registrants’ and attendees’ demographics and discuss the potential of engaging a broader range of people at online science events. Hosting online public lectures and analysing survey results for the registrations and attendees, we find the age distribution of the attendees showcases a much higher fraction of teens and younger participants compared with an in-person case. The result also demonstrates that the fraction of female participants was higher in the online lectures. Our survey results suggest that an online public lecture allows us to reach more young people in their teens and twenties, as well as those underrepresented in STEM, such as women. We also found that providing the online recorded video was essential to sharing scientific stories with a broader audience.

Chisato

Expanding access: The effectiveness of online science events in attracting a wider audience

In recent years, mainly in developed countries, there has been a significant increase in healthy lifespans as a result of advances in healthcare. For older adults, learning is important in improving their quality of life. However, previous research on lifelong learning for older adults has not covered science subjects, including astronomy, as learning subjects. Thus, this study investigates the contribution of astronomy to the needs of today’s older adult learners. Based on the findings, and contrary to classical studies about learning for older adults based on research in the 1970s, present older adult learners who focus on astronomy are: 1) not looking for practical benefits from their learning; 2) not attempting to make new friends or reflecting on their past lives; and 3) simply enjoying learning itself and aiming to broaden their perspectives through learning. These findings imply that the community of astronomy communication should contribute to older adult learners by adapting various strategies to their needs and characteristics.

Shigeyuki

Takako

Pioneering research on the contribution of astronomy to the needs of older adult learners

Exhibition booths provide a platform for organisations to showcase their specialities but are often limited by space and prohibitive costs for transporting large or fragile equipment. To address this, we developed a three-dimensional virtual exhibit that allows visitors to explore the technology and research behind the ASKAP radio telescope through interactive models of antennas and other components of the telescope array, including 360-degree visuals and animations. People can meet inside the virtual space regardless of their physical location to tour the exhibit and engage in discussions. The exhibition can be accessed through nearly any internet-accessible device, including a virtual reality (VR) headset, computer, or smartphone. The virtual exhibit was demonstrated at three in-person conferences by using a VR headset to access the exhibit from a conference booth, with both in-person and online team members to support the space. Participants were markedly impressed by the sense of presence in the 3D space and the ability to meet with experts who were not attending the conference. Such virtual spaces can be constructed relatively simply and have the potential to bridge online and in-person participants, as well as demonstrate facilities impossible to carry to event locations.

Elizabeth J.

Vanessa A.

Glen A.

Aidan W.

Ronald D.

Rika

Emily F.

Katrina V. H.

Think outside the booth: An immersive virtual exhibit for discussing science and technology with an audience from around the world

Contemporary assessments reveal the widespread repercussions of light pollution, impacting 99% of the population in the United States and Europe (Falchi et al., 2016). In Pakistan, a study employing satellite remote sensing and GIS techniques exposed the challenges posed by artificial light sources, impeding the nation’s potential to establish Dark Sky Places (Butt, 2012). Over the seven-year period from 2012 to 2019, the city of Lahore witnessed a nearly 25% escalation in light pollution, affecting more than 50% of the city, emphasising the importance of government and public initiatives for mitigation (Nisar et al., 2022). This article asserts the critical need for effective measures to mitigate light pollution, positioning Pakistan as a distinguished destination for Dark Sky Places. Regrettably, a deficiency in awareness exacerbates light pollution in the region (Stare, 2022). Urgent and robust awareness initiatives are imperative to underscore the value of preserving natural darkness. This interdisciplinary examination delves into methodologies fostering public awareness of dark sky protection, emphasising their substantial impact on conveying the severity of light pollution, engaging diverse audiences, and garnering support for policies safeguarding the dark sky (e.g., Sleigh & Craske, 2017).

Mohammad Rayan

Dark sky educational outreach through art and collaboration

The rising tide of misinformation is compromising civic discourse, and the pervasiveness of pseudoscience threatens rational decision-making on scientific issues. This paper uses Google Books and Google Trends data to report on several types of astronomical pseudoscience in English language books since 1800 and English language online searches since 2004, with a particular focus on the United States regarding Internet searches. These tools can be unreliable for diagnosing subtle or short-term trends, but they are robust for major trends over long timescales. Astrology, UFO and related terms have increased in occurrence in books over the past half-century and in web searches since 2004. In the 21st century, there is a striking rise in the occurrence of the word horoscope in books and its use in web searches. Mention of UFO has increased steadily in books since 1950, and spikes in web searches in the 21st-century track with a national UFO reporting database. Three aspects of the “culture” of UFOs have appeared much more frequently in books since the 1990s: alien abduction, crop circle, and ancient astronauts. For web searches since 2004, the first two dominate, with the search peaks generally correlated with the release of related movies. By all these measures, pseudoscience is on the rise.

“The truth is out there”: Tracking the rise of pseudoscience

The International Astronomical Union National Outreach Coordinators (IAU NOCs) serve a vital role in their communities. As the tie between the IAU and local public engagement activities, they are responsible for disseminating materials and resources into their communities, broadening the IAU’s reach, and leveraging astronomy communication to move toward a better and more equitable future. The NOCs and their teams truly embody the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach motto - Astronomy for Everyone. In 2024, the OAO is excited to join the rest of the IAU community at the XXXII IAU General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa. In celebration of this event, we asked the IAU NOCs from across the African continent to describe their work, demonstrating the diversity of astronomy communication taking place in these communities.

Doh Kofi

Naomi

Kassamba Abdel Aziz

Ivanilda Maria

Mayssa

Mohammed Yahya Alradi

Meriem

Amjed

Kirubel

Jamal

Mbonteh Roland

Peter

Claudio Moises

Zara

Somaya

Salma

Alemiye Mamo

Column

Astronomy communication across Africa: The IAU National Outreach Coordinators

In August 2024, the International Astronomical Union General Assembly will take place on the African continent for the first time in the organisation’s 105-year history. To celebrate this historic event, the National Organising Committee’s education and public outreach team is planning a series of events to encourage students and the general public across the continent to explore and engage with astronomy. This article describes how we will engage the African public before, during and after the conference.

Sally

Explained in 60 seconds: Community engagement at the XXXII IAU General Assembly

This paper will examine how a simple archival research project in a planetarium can uncover competing narratives and forgotten figures. We set out to uncover how a Goto “Mars” projector was selected for the Armagh Planetarium in 1965 by looking at the remaining archival material from the period. The projector was the centrepiece of a new planetarium that had been in the planning stages for over twenty years when the first stones were laid. The projector would occupy a pivotal place in the mythology of the Armagh Planetarium, and its short seven-year reign saw the establishment of an institution that would survive significant internal and external turmoil. Contrasting the narrative and mythology around this central piece of equipment with the evidence uncovered in the archive reveals important considerations for how planetariums can research their own history.

Archival research in a planetarium: The first projector at Armagh Planetarium

Among many planetariums in Turkey, Istanbul University hosts the first planetarium in an astronomy department run by professional astronomers and graduate and undergraduate astronomy students. In this work, we present the design and some technical aspects of the planetarium, as well as our experiences since its opening in 2018.

Sinan

A. Talat

F. Korhan

The first planetarium in an astronomy department in Turkey

Infini.to is a science center devoted to astronomy and space that contains a digital planetarium. Since its opening in September 2007, the planetarium has been one of the most essential tools for audience engagement and science communication at Infini.to. After more than fifteen years of trial and error, we have learned many lessons and identified several best practices, which we relay in this article.

Marco

Eleonora

Emanuele

Simona

The Infini.to planetarium: One tool, many ways to make the most of it!

This article summarises the experience from the first three years of operation of the Unisphere spherical projection at Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic. In addition to our operational experience, we describe our creative activities and future plans for the Unisphere Studio.

Tomáš

Unisphere after three years of operation

In celebration of the planetarium’s 100th anniversary, this article offers a case study of the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center Planetarium. The planetarium emerges as a paramount symbol of the enduring significance of these celestial learning centres, uniquely positioned to champion astronomy education and the preservation of the pristine night sky. Through innovative initiatives and immersive experiences, this planetarium inspires the next generation of scientists and illuminates the path to a future shaped by scientific curiosity and cosmic exploration.

Fatemah

Khaled

Celebrating the Centennial of the Planetarium – reflections and innovations in the planetarium community in Kuwait

The Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa are among archaeology’s greatest enigmas because of their quantity, nature, size, and continuity. The several kilometres-long geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylised plants, and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures (Figure 1). They are believed to have had both ritual and astronomical functions (e.g., UNESCO World Heritage Centre, n.d.), and today, they are considered one of the most emblematic places related to ancient civilisations. Based on the studies of mathematician María Reiche, who dedicated most of her life to researching and protecting this highly symbolic natural environment that survived intact for over 2,000 years, she postulated that the Nasca lines probably represented the largest open book of astronomy on Earth. To communicate the complexity of this region and its connection to ancient astronomy, we created a unique planetarium experience that explains basic astronomy and the cultural uses of the night sky.

Barthélemy J. C.

Planetarium María Reiche: A vintage planetarium in the digital age

The Space and Nature Aruba Foundation (SNAF) has acquired a mobile inflatable planetarium with the goal of inspiring young students on the island of Aruba to pursue careers in science and technology. Despite lacking the necessary funds to buy an off-the-shelf projector for the planetarium, SNAF debuted it to the public on 14 October 2024 during the partial solar eclipse. Ideally, the mobile planetarium will introduce young students to the wonders of the Universe and inspire them to pursue careers in science and technology, making astronomy and Earth science accessible to the local community.

Jairo

Darryl

Jeremio

Space and NatureAruba Foundation (SNAF)

Aruba’s first planetarium: A work in progress

Accessibility in the planetarium requires architectural accommodations for differently abled people and careful preparation of accessible content. Noreen Grice has worked in content accessibility for astronomy in the dome and publications with NASA and other organisations for many years. This interview encapsulates her work and experiences.

Interview

Pioneering accessible astronomy under the planetarium dome: An interview with Noreen Grice

From 2023 to 2025, we celebrate the centennial of the planetarium: one hundred years of storytelling under the dome. As the projector technology has changed and become much more sophisticated, so have the ways in which we communicate science in the immersive environment of the planetarium. However, throughout this century, planetariums have remained an exciting venue to learn, share stories, connect, and experience the awe of a truly dark sky.

Dani

Planetariums as venues for dynamic storytelling

This year, 2023, marks 100 years since the first planetarium projector was unveiled. Planetariums were developed to faithfullyreproduce starry skies. Although many empirical studies have been conducted using planetariums, few have focused onhow individuals perceive starry skies projected onto planetariums. To understand this point in the context of Japaneseuniversity students, the present study analysed subjects’ perceptions of the starry sky, using the effects of light pollutionand their experience of astrotourism as variables. This study projected the night sky onto a digital planetarium at sixsequential intervals of the naked-eye limiting magnitude. Although there is a sample bias and some limitations, the resultsmay imply that subjects living in areas more affected by light pollution are more likely to perceive night skies as authenticat a lower naked-eye limiting magnitude. Additionally, astrotourism experience may correlate with the perceived ability toqualitatively identify many stars. These results may impact light pollution awareness and abatement efforts.

Koki

Fumie

Masami

Empirical study on the digital planetarium system for measuring visual perception of the night sky: Analysis of impact from light pollution and astrotourism

The UNAM/AMT Mobile Planetarium travels to Namibian schools and presents live astronomy shows, introducing school children to astronomy and science in general. Mobile planetariums face a host of specific challenges, especially logistical ones. Moreover, very few planetariums are situated in the Global South (International Planetarium Society, n.d.), where documentation (e.g., Carlson, 2020; Olivier, 2014) on them is limited, mainly focusing only on stationary planetariums in Africa and, in most cases, are not easily accessible. Here, we detail the challenges faced and share our lessons learnt in an African context, particularly revolving around the use of student volunteers as the backbone of the project. We will also contribute insights into how to deal with vastly different school environments. The logistical issues and lessons discussed here span the mobile planetarium’s electricity requirements, how to manage heat build-up in the dome, and how to deal with the lack of large indoor spaces that our mobile planetarium usually requires. We additionally discuss the challenges around funding for the project. The work presented here was adopted and adapted as a scaled version of the successful NOVA Mobile Planetarium Project in the Netherlands (e.g., Holt, 2022; NOVA, 2023), noting that Namibia provides a very different outreach setting. In summary, a solid logistical and organisational basis is invaluable, as well as seamless teamwork and the right approach to secure future sponsors for the mobile planetarium project.

Hélène

Michael

Zandré

Hans-Werner

Queen "Delight"

Lott

Francisco

Sigrid

Heino

Marc

Amanda

Maaike

Hiiko

Emilia

Victoria

Namasiku

The UNAM/AMT Mobile Planetarium: Lessons learnt on how to run a student-driven mobile planetarium project in Africa

The Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA) has operated a Mobile Planetarium for over 14 years. Between 2009-2023, the project reached more than 400,000 learners and their teachers across the Netherlands. The project has been popular with schools since the beginning but continues to grow and reach increasing numbers of learners and schools each year. A project like the Mobile Planetarium does not continue growing this way without developing key ingredients or best practices. In this article, we describe the NOVA Mobile Planetarium project in detail and the challenges faced over the last 14 years. Reflection on the different aspects of the project has led to 10 best practices which have been critical to the continued success of this project. In this article, we aim to share our experiences to help other mobile planetarium projects around the world.

Joanna

Joris

Marieke

The NOVA Mobile Planetarium: Ten best practices for planetarium projects based on an astronomy education success story

Planetariums are usually known as non-formal learning spaces and an incredible way to communicate astronomical and scientific knowledge. However, this potential increases when we build a planetarium because we add knowledge and fun to the space. In this project, we report on constructing a planetarium for this innovative and stimulating learning environment. Currently, there are several models of planetariums, some simpler and others quite complex; however, they are almost always places of passive interaction. Here, we propose to build a cardboard planetarium, which allows a remarkable application of the STEAM strategy in a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project that can actively involve children from age 12 directly in the construction process. We have designed and built a cardboard planetarium, 4 metres in diameter, with a capacity to host up to 20 children or 10 adults per session. The planetarium is composed of a dome and a base for support; both are constructed from cardboard with different thicknesses due to the individual function of each one. A pilot planetarium was successfully exhibited during a science festival in Portugal. There are plans to build other DIY planetariums in countries across Europe.

Vinicius

Frances

Niall

Priscila

Emmanuel

Gustavo

Rosa

Build your own cardboard planetarium: A DIY experience for students

The Porto Planetarium – Ciência Viva Center (PP-CCV) is under the scientific and operational management of the Center for Astronomy/Astrophysics Research of the University of Porto, which also hosts the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA), the largest astronomy research unit in Portugal. This article presents the conception, development, implementation and evaluation of PP-CCV’s ongoing science education strategy, built upon two main pillars: Science Communication and Science Education. Those self-sustained pillars are interconnected, leveraging each other in a truly synergistic process. The assessment of the science education strategy was carried out through a questionnaire, participant observations and interviews. These results revealed how we can effectively connect science education and science communication using outreach structures already established in research units. However, those institutions must understand the school curricula and get to know the teacher’s ecosystem. That will be the foundation for us to build upon and to move from what students should know – the prescribed curriculum – to what is scientifically relevant for them to know – the most up-to-date foundations of scientific knowledge and process. With that, we can start from science education to reach science communication by framing the curricula with the most up-to-date scientific knowledge and processes.

Ilídio André

Ricardo

Elsa

Science communication through astronomy education: The creation, implementation, and assessment of Porto Planetarium’s science education strategy

Misconceptions in astronomy arise because of our unique, geocentric perspective on the night sky and astronomical phenomena. However, astronomy is quintessentially a “spatial” science, and three-dimensional visualisation is necessary for understanding most of its core concepts. Since the traditional optomechanical planetarium offers the same geocentric point of view on the sky, it might generate similar misconceptions in visitors. The new digital planetarium, which projects on the dome a realistic and accurate rendition of the cosmos in 3D, allows us to break free from 2D representations and transforms the planetarium theatre into a virtual spacecraft, affording different perspectives on astronomical phenomena. This new planetarium thus becomes an extraordinary tool to foster conceptual change in visitors. Recent research in astronomy education about using the digital planetarium to teach basic astronomy concepts, like the diurnal cycle, phases of the Moon, and seasons, has shown the advantages of this new tool, compared with 2D visuals and traditional classroom instruction. More research needs to be done to better understand how to use the digital planetarium in communicating astronomy with the public, especially to present concepts with a strong spatial component, but the future is promising!

Pierre

Digital planetariums as new tools for conceptual change

Because storytelling is a powerful communication tool, many advocate for its use for communicating science. However, astronomical storytelling is not so straightforward for those starting out in the planetarium field who might not know how to create a story from scratch. In this article, I will review the evidence for the effectiveness of storytelling, how stories have been defined in media, and the various types of storytelling frameworks that have been advocated for use in communicating science. I show how the And-But-Therefore (ABT) framework can describe most types of stories, including fulldome videos, and can be used to create compelling content for planetarium presentations. I give example story outlines and present a general guide on converting any science account into the ABT story form.

Ka Chun

A guide to communicating astronomy with storytelling in planetariums

Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System is an audio-visual show for planetariums and flatscreen viewing. It is designed in collaboration with members of the blind and vision impaired (BVI) community, BVI specialist teachers and their pupils. It aims to be suitable for audiences with all sight levels by representing key concepts through sound and using a carefully constructed narration. We present results from 291 audience evaluations from online viewers and audience members of several planetarium showings in the UK and Italy. We find a strong appreciation from BVI and non-BVI audiences, with ~90% scoring 4 or 5 (out of 5) for both how useful and enjoyable the sounds are. We also present results from surveying planetariums and communication leaders known to have downloaded the show. We find international success for special events, for BVI audiences and for those with other special educational needs and disabilities (SEND; including sensory needs and learning difficulties). Feedback suggests this is due to its multi-sensory, clearly narrated, and low sensory load (calm) production. However, we also describe limitations identified during this evaluation exercise, including the show’s limited incorporation into regular (non-special) planetarium programmes. This highlights an ongoing challenge of creating a fully inclusive planetarium experience.

Chris M.

Anita

Aishwarya

Evaluation and insights from a sonification-based planetarium show intended for improving inclusivity

Thousands of planetariums around the world help to engage with public audiences each day and serve as essential science gateways. Starting in October 2023 and lasting through May 2025, the international planetarium community will celebrate its first Centennial and look forward to the next one hundred years of dome-based education and entertainment. While technology has changed dramatically in the past century, the core mission of the planetarium has not changed: to provide a window into the Universe and to tell the stories that gift us all with a better understanding of our place in the Cosmos.

Bjorn

Guilherme F.

The stars were just the beginning

The nature and complexity of various kinds of astronomical data visualisations can be challenging to communicate with non-experts. The obstacles can become even larger for people who are blind, low vision or learn best via non-visual methods since much of the messaging in astronomical communication hinges on the visual imagery created from these data. In consultation with members from blind and low-vision communities, we present an overview of the 3D print and sonification projects and an in-depth discussion of the visual description project at NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. We offer a case study of how the 3D prints, sonifications, and visual descriptions are currently being used for mission and programme communications. We focus on how we integrate verbal explanations of the scientific phenomena along with descriptions of what the visual viewer sees in the presented imagery, sonification or 3D model to create a more accessible, cohesive package. We suggest that this process of creating content for blind or low-vision audiences can be scaffolded and applied to other types of astronomy content and a wide range of science communication.

Kimberly Kowal

Megan

J. J.

An accessibility case study incorporating rich visual descriptions for Chandra’s high-energy Universe

Astronomy, with its vast array of tools and resources, can greatly benefit society. One area in need of new approaches and interventions is mental health and well-being. Diminished mental health can have a profound effect on society, from financial to loss of human potential. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is exploring how astronomy can play a role in improving mental health and well-being.
As part of its project on astronomy for mental health, the OAD is creating and publishing resources for astronomers, educators, science communicators, and others who may benefit from using astronomy in their activities. One of the key resources being developed is the Astronomy for Mental Health Guidelines. This open-access document provides practical steps, tools, resources, and examples for planning, adapting or reviewing programmes or interventions targeting mental health and well-being.
This article will provide the background and context to the problem of mental health, motivations for using astronomy such as the shortfall in global mental healthcare services, a brief summary of the Guidelines and access to the Guidelines online.

Dominic C.

Sandra

Resources

The Astronomy for Mental Health Guidelines: A live document for the community

While an astronomer’s job is typically to look out from Earth, the seriousness of the climate crisis has meant a shift in many astronomers’ focus. Astronomers are starting to consider how our resource requirements may contribute to this crisis and how we may better conduct our research in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. Astronomers for Planet Earth is an international organisation (more than 1,700 members from over 70 countries as of November 2022) that seeks to answer the call for sustainability to be at the heart of astronomers’ practices. In this article, we review the organisation’s history, summarising the proactive, collaborative efforts and research into astronomy sustainability conducted by its members. We update the state of affairs with respect to the carbon footprint of astronomy research, noting an improvement in renewable energy powering supercomputing facilities in Australia, reducing that component of our footprint by a factor of 2–3. We discuss how, despite accelerated changes made throughout the pandemic, we still must address the format of our meetings. Using recent annual meetings of the Australian and European astronomical societies as examples, we demonstrate that the more online-focussed a meeting is, the greater its attendance and the lower its emissions.

Driving action on the climate crisis through Astronomers for Planet Earth and beyond

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