Making Astronomy and Space Science Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired Students
Bernhard Beck-Winchatz (DePaul University), Vivian Hoette (University of Chicago Yerkes Observatory), Noreen Grice
(Boston Museum of Science)
Summary
Blind and visually impaired students are often at a
disadvantage when they study science and math because of
the ubiquity of important graphical information, which is
generally not made available in alternate formats accessible
to them. This problem is particularly severe in astronomy and
space science because the objects of interest usually cannot
be examined in the laboratory, and their properties are
difficult to relate to familiar objects on Earth. Like their
sighted peers, many blind students in elementary and middle
school have a natural interest in space, which can motivate
them to learn fundamental quantitative skills. For some this
interest can even present a pathway into careers in science,
math and engineering.
Scale Models of Near-Earth Asteroids
Tactile Planisphere
Planispheres are commonly used in
elementary and middle school
classrooms. They allow students to
identify constellations and observe
the effect of Earth’s rotation and
orbit around the Sun. We have
adapted the Planisphere from “The
Universe at your Fingertips” for use
by blind students. Stars and
constellation patterns are raised.
Labels are in Braille.
Funded by a IDEAS grant from NASA, the primary goal of
The Space Exploration Experience Project for the Blind and
Visually Impaired (SEE Project) is to develop and test Braille
/ tactile inquiry-based hands-on space science activities and
observing programs that actively engage blind and visually
impaired students from elementary grades through
introductory college level in space science. We are in the
process of developing an activity kit centered around tactile
astronomical images and models. Activities are pilot-tested at
the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the
Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Most
materials are available on-line and can be converted into
tactile format with low-cost thermal expansion machines.
We are also designing a program in tactile observational
astronomy at Yerkes Observatory for blind and visually
impaired students. Students will take astronomical images
with the 24-inch, 10-inch, and 8-inch telescopes at the
Observatory, and analyze them in tactile format.
Finally, we are exploring the best use of tactile space science
images for sighted people with certain learning disabilities,
young children, senior citizens, and people with different
learning styles during public observing night at the Western
Connecticut State University Observatory.
Asteroid
Asteroid
Length (km)
Model
Length (cm)
Scale
Reference
1998 KY26
0.03
7.5
1:400
Ostro et al.
1999
CASTALIA
1.6
8
1:20,000
Hudson &
Ostro 1994
TOUTATIS
4.6
11.5
1:40,000
Hudson &
Ostro 1995,
Hudson et al.
2003
GOLEVKA
0.69
7.5
1:9,000
Hudson et al.
2000
KLEOPATRA
217
7.5
1:2,900,000
Ostro et al.
2000
GEOGRAPHOS
5.1
11.5
1:44,000
Hudson &
Ostro 1999
EROS
33
11.5
1:290,000
Veverka et al.
2000
BACCHUS
1.05
8
1:13,000
Benner et al.
1999
1998 ML14
1.0
7.5
1:13,000
Ostro et al.
2001
Some of the drawbacks of two-dimensional tactile graphics can be avoided with threedimensional models, which allow blind students to perceive spatial structures directly. In
recent years rapid prototyping has become essential in helping mechanical engineers
quickly produce prototype physical models of new designs directly from digital data.
Recently, accurate scale models of near-Earth asteroids have become available. We are
developing a set of activities in which students learn fundamental concepts in Earth and
space science, including the composition of the solar system, the connection between
size, mass, and gravity, the design and use of scale models, the role of meteorite impacts
throughout Earth’s history, and the danger impacts may pose in the future.
Thermal Paper Expansion Machine
Tactile Lunar Phases
Observing, predicting, and interpreting the phases of the Moon
is an important part of the space science curriculum in grades
K-8. These inverse grayscale images taken with the Yerkes
rooftop telescopes can be converted into tactile format with
thermal expansion machines, and used by blind students in
activities that involve observing, predicting, and modeling the
lunar cycle.
A relatively inexpensive and easy way to
produce tactile graphics is by using a thermal
paper expansion machine. An image is
transferred onto thermal expansion paper
with a photocopier or a computer printer.
When it is passed through the machine dark
lines and areas are raised up, and allow blind
students to explore the image by touch. The
machine pictured above was donated to
Yerkes Observatory by the Williams Bay
Lions Club for use in the SEE Project. While
it is easy to produce tactile images, the issues
involved in designing good tactile images
can be very complex. Many blind students
have little experience interpreting twodimensional renderings of three-dimensional
objects. In addition, the haptic perception of
humans is intrinsically less detailed than
sight. Thus images have to be kept simple,
without compromising important scientific
content
Tactile/Braille diagram of the orbit of near-Earth asteroid
Toutatis. We also created a printed version to aid educators
who do not read Braille.
Summer Programs in Tactile Observational
Astronomy
As part of the SEE Project, blind and visually
impaired students will conduct their own
astronomical observations using the 24-inch, 10inch, and 8-inch telescopes at Yerkes Observatory
in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The students will take
CCD images and convert them into tactile format
with a thermal paper expansion machine. They will
then analyze and interpret their images with Braille
measuring tools. Possible students projects include
creating a lunar calendar, determining the mass of
the Jovian planets from the orbits of their moons,
monitoring variable stars, and tracking asteroids
and comets.
40-inch Refractor
24-inch Reflector
Rooftop Telescopes
Aerial View of Yerkes
Observatory
National Federation of the Blind Summer Science Camp
Tactile Imaging
Touch the Universe – A NASA Braille Book of Astronomy
Prior to the SEE Project, some of our team developed a Braille
astronomy book based on tactile representations of Hubble
Space Telescope images. It is available from the National
Academy Press web site, amazon.com, and other commercial
outlets. Touch the Universe enables blind people to see the
universe for the first time through the eyes of the Hubble Space
Telescope. It has clearly demonstrated that there is high interest
in space science within blind and visually impaired
communities. The SEE Project builds upon the experience of
Touch the Universe by creating active space science learning
opportunities for blind and visually impaired students.
Thermal paper expansion machines are best suited for images
that have sharp borders and other high-contrast features in them.
The above composite images of Asteroid 594 Mireille and comet
Linear 2002T7 were created with Hands-On Universe (HOU)
software. HOU is used as an intermediary software for the
development of the tactile images; the HOU curriculum also
informs/guides team members in approaches for analysis of
images that lead to astronomical understandings. The
development of HOU was funded by the National Science
Foundation.
Adapted SOFIA Active Astronomy Kit
All humans are blind in most parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. NASA’s
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has developed an Active
Astronomy Kit with which students can explore invisible infrared light. We have adapted
the light detector activity from this kit for blind students. Students learn that just like
astronomers extend their senses with detectors to measure light from all parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum, they too can access the information carried by light that is
invisible to them, for example by using electronic detectors, by “borrowing” a lab
partner’s eyes, or by using their sense of hearing or touch.
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
is the largest consumer organization of the
blind in the United States. We are working
with the NFB on a two-week science camp
for middle and high school students, which
will take place during the summer of 2004.
This program will be one of the first major
events at the NFB’s new Research and
Training Institute, due to open on January
30, 2004. A major goal of the program is to
develop materials and strategies for
engaging blind students in science, which
can then be exported to other centers and
schools for the blind across the country.