http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Astrophysics @ NASA Goddard

The Universe Beyond the

Solar System…

Anita KrishnamurthiEducation and Public Outreach Lead

Astrophysics Science DivisionNASA Goddard Space Flight Center

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Goddard

• Goddard Space Flight Center is one of 10 NASA centers

• Located in Greenbelt, Maryland • Largest science center for NASA• Sciences and Exploration Directorate is composed of

– Astrophysics Science Division

– Solar System

– Heliophysics

– Earth Science

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Astrophysics Science DivisionLabs and Missions

Astrophysics Science DivisionLabs and Missions

• Astroparticle physics[Balloon programs, Swift, Integral, GLAST…]

• X-ray Astrophysics [RXTE, Suzaku, XMM-Newton, Constellation-X]

• Observational Cosmology [Balloon programs, WMAP, JDEM, JWST…]

• Gravitational Astrophysics [Theoretical work, LISA]

• Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics[Instruments on Hubble, Spitzer, JWST, TPF…]

• Astroparticle physics[Balloon programs, Swift, Integral, GLAST…]

• X-ray Astrophysics [RXTE, Suzaku, XMM-Newton, Constellation-X]

• Observational Cosmology [Balloon programs, WMAP, JDEM, JWST…]

• Gravitational Astrophysics [Theoretical work, LISA]

• Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics[Instruments on Hubble, Spitzer, JWST, TPF…]

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

• The Early Universe• Galaxies• Stars• Black Holes and Neutron Stars• Gamma Ray Bursts• Extra-solar planets• Gravitational Waves (Theory)• Technology Development

What we study….

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Challenges and opportunities for communicating with the public

Challenges:– Large range of science themes and missions– High-energy astrophysics is not very visual– “Exotic” science

Opportunities:– “Exotic” science! People are fascinated…– Can discuss a wide variety of astronomy topics – Highlight importance of multi-wavelength

astronomy– Show technology science interdependence

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Evidence of public interest…

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Reaching the public…

Classrooms- Curriculum support- Training workshops- Teacher programs

Wide range of projects and programs for a variety of audiences:

“Influentials”Press

Policy-makers

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Reaching the public…

Out-of-school-time- Afterschool programs

- Girl Scouts- Family Science Nights

General publicWebsites, Podcast,

Public Talks, DVDs, Brochures

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

• Popular website targeted at general public (~1 million visits/month)

• Has “Ask-an-Astrophysicist” feature

• “Teacher’s Corner” has curriculum support materials as well tools for analyzing data

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Imagine the Universe!

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Beyond Einstein Explorers’ Program (BEEP)

• Out-of-school-time program teaches middle-school kids about the Universe beyond the solar system

• Kids that age really interested in “complex” science, but not much opportunity to learn about them

• Currently 12 sessions – steps through basics and introduces content such as life cycles of stars, black holes, galaxies…

• Flexibly structured

beyondeinstein.nasa.gov/education/BEEP/

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

BEEP (contd.)

• Very hands-on, incorporates art and movement

• Piloted with small group in 2006 and tested nation-wide in 2007 – “It changed my idea of how big the Universe really is.”

– “I was more enthused about astronomy because I now have a better understanding.”

• Widely available in Spring 2008 – detailed downloadable PDF manual + materials list

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Worlds Beyond

• Educational art project exploring the topic of exoplanets

• Students learn about detection techniques and “adopt” an exoplanet

• Translate their scientific knowledge into art

• Successfully piloted in 2007

http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/worldsbeyond/index.html

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Opportunities for IYA

• Including the themes of IYA into our existing programming

• Share our programs with people like you

• Develop some new programming around technology development – JWST presents an opportunity to highlight how far we’ve come since Galileo!

We’re open to other ideas!

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov

Contact us!

Anita.Krishnamurthi@nasa.gov

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov(and)

http://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach/