Designing the Cosmos: Fall Constellations of the Zodiac

College of Letters & Science, Creighton, Jean, Mentor, Physics, Poster Presentation, Project, School and College, Student, Teubert, Sophia

Sophia Teubert, “Designing the Cosmos: Fall Constellations of the Zodiac”
Mentor: Jean Creighton, Physics
Poster #172

The topic of Zodiac signs and astrology is trending in western culture, but only a few people are aware of the astronomy and mythology behind the constellations of the Zodiac. The constellations of the Zodiac consist of twelve 30º sectors (out of 88 total sectors/constellations) along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun in the sky. We focused on the Zodiac constellations that people typically associate with Fall: Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Capricornus. Through extensive research, we were able to locate several astronomical objects of interest within these constellations that help us tell a scientific story such as the scale of the universe. We also determined the mythologies behind each, researching their Greek origins (including primary sources such as Hesiod). Using design, we translated our findings into separate public programs hosted at the Manfred Olson Planetarium for each constellation, providing viewers with an educational yet easily digestible experience. These shows were the final three shows of a series hosted by the Planetarium featuring all twelve constellations of the Zodiac. Many members of our community enjoyed these programs: the attendance was 189 people.  Each program featured a 30-minute multimedia slide show, which highlighted our research of 3-5 deep space objects located within their respective constellation group, ranging from stars to galaxies. We used a combination of images, video, and graphics to conceptualize our findings.  Each program also included a 25-minute indoor stargazing session and a Q&A session. Our research provided the opportunity to go beyond our normal research protocol and immerse ourselves in the topic of constellations and using design to interpret the information to a broader audience. As a result, this project has become a manifestation of how the UWM Planetarium can connect people to the wonders of space and each other, and how design can foster that connection.