Boosting the public engagement with astronomy through arts

TL;DR

This paper explores how arts can effectively enhance public engagement with astronomy by leveraging its visual appeal and historical artistic representations, with potential educational applications.

Contribution

It reviews lesser-known literary representations of astronomical concepts and discusses their potential use in educational outreach to foster public interest.

Findings

Arts effectively attract public interest in astronomy

Literary representations can be used in educational contexts

Astronomy's artistic aspects enhance science communication

Abstract

Arts are a seamless way to introduce the general public to both basic and more sophisticated astronomical concepts. The visual richness of astronomy makes it attractive and easily incorporated in painting and literature. Astronomy is the only science with a muse - Urania - implying that, at least in the eyes of the ancients, it was an art itself. I review some less well known representation of astronomical concepts in literature with potential application in education.