Professors, Student Dedicate Time to Astronomy Website

Photo courtesy of Yvonne Garcia.

By Broadside Style Editor Emily Sharrer

In school, astronomy was never one of Chris Mathews’ favorite subjects. That’s why even those close to the art and visual technology major may be surprised to learn that for a little over a year, Mathews has been working closely with astronomy enthusiasts on Astrocast.TV, a web-based news program focusing on astronomy.

If the website had not won two awards for their educational and creative efforts, many probably would not know that the ordinary college freshman was busy taping and working on graphics for the site’s monthly show tapings.

“The video shooting is my favorite part,” said Mathews, who was new to videotaping with all the technology available in the Astrocast.TV studio. “I learned a lot of stuff about how video recording is done . . . We use a green screen, we actually have an audio mixer and we use and a teleprompter.”

According to Mathews, the site tapes for a half hour to an hour once a month to create a new episode. Mathews, however, is busy several hours a week creating graphics for each episode, though he says his hardwork for the site does not interrupt his schoolwork.

“We did the videotaping on the weekend and I work on my digital animations at school anyway,” he said.

The website, which recently had its one year anniversary, focuses on providing accessible news in a “visually rich and comprehensive format” to people who may not be well-versed in the science of astronomy.

“It’s being structured so that it is interesting to anyone who has any kind of general interest in space science and exploration and astronomy,” said Yvonne Garcia, media relations director for the site. “It’s interesting not only [to those] who are interested in astronomy, but people interested in green screen production and even computers.”

Mathews added, “The program is made for amateurs so it should be easy for them to learn about astronomy.”

Astrocast.TV’s team consists of NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassadors Greg Redfern, who teaches at George Mason University, and Dr. Lori Feaga, who also serves as a research associate at the University of Maryland. Mason professor Dr. Harold Geller, who hosts his own segment on the site, Ask Dr. Geller, serves as Astrocast.TV’s special adviser as well as the director of the Mason Observatory.

Bente Lilja Bye is an astrophysicist and earth science expert who lives in Norway and produces and hosts her own section for the site called “A Green Space—A Green Earth.” Likewise, Carolyn Collins Petersen, vice president of multimedia production company Loch Ness Productions, hosts “The Astronomer’s Universe” for Astrocast.TV.

Rounding out the website’s hosts is Tavi Greiner, an amateur in the field of astronomy, who enjoys reaching out to other amateurs in her segment, “Our Night Sky.”

On average, the site gets about 45,000 hits a month from viewers all over the world, including from China, Russia, Iran, Iraq and the UK, according to Garcia.

“Certainly [the site has] gotten a lot of recognition,” said Garcia. “The numbers keep rising. I think the purpose of astrocast is to connect everybody from scientists to everyday people to astronomy and space science and to open that opportunity to have a connection and dialogue and the ability to be able to talk about astronomy.”

In February, the site was awarded two Telly Awards, which are given to outstanding local, regional and cable TV programs as well as video, film and internet productions. Astrocast.TV won awards for their educational content, as well as their ability to operate outstandingly on a low budget according to Garcia.

The site was also recently invited to become a media partner of the International Year of Astronomy, a year-long celebration of astronomy, due heavily to the credibility of the site’s hosts said Garcia. Geller, in particular, was very excited about the site’s achievements.

“I think it made him feel so good to receive the award,” said Garcia. “Not only does he teach classes at [Mason], he’s providing outreach on astronomy worldwide.”
For the month of May, Garcia says viewers should expect new additons and hopefully a bigger variety of information offered by the site.

“We are looking for students who have an interest in volunteering . . . the interest is not only for those majoring in astronomy,” said Garcia.

To learn more or to find out how you can become involved with Astrocast.TV, e-mail info@astrocast.tv