Carlin2024

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Carlin2024
BibType ARTICLE
Key Carlin2024
Author(s) Andrew Carlin, Joana Brás Varanda Marques, Rod Watson
Title Encountered astronomy: Aesthetics and authenticity in the public communication of science
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Michael Lynch
Publisher
Year 2024
Language English
City
Month
Journal Ethnographic Studies
Volume 20
Number
Pages 46-67
URL Link
DOI 10.26034/lu.ethns.2024.6912
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Within what we call “encountered astronomy” there is a discrepancy between images that can be visualized while looking through a small telescope—whether in an observatory or in a backyard—and images obtai-ned with professional equipment—digital cameras, professional telescopes, or those sent back to Earth from space-based telescopes and space probes. As Michael Lynch suggested, this discrepancy is a known problem for the public communication of astronomy. Astronomer guides in public observation of the sky sessions engage in practices to manage the disappointment of visitors who expect to see remarkable images of celestial objects. This paper explicates bases for guides’ work through considerations of “aesthetics” and “authenticity”. Astronomer guides normalize the divide between telescopic viewing and the achieved spectacles of astrophotography. A corpus of video-recordings of star parties occasioned a reconsideration of a range of Lynch’s studies, which afford reflection on contextures in relation to astronomy education settings and the vastness of Space.

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