Astronomy in Appalachia: Five Lessons in Designing a Planetarium Show

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of a new planetarium show that integrates Appalachian folk astronomy with modern science to enhance astronomy education and cross-cultural understanding.

Contribution

It introduces a novel educational program that combines cultural narratives with scientific astronomy, emphasizing experiential learning in a regional context.

Findings

Appalachian folk astronomy can effectively connect cultural stories with scientific concepts.

The show enhances cultural awareness and scientific understanding among viewers.

Lessons learned inform future development of culturally integrated science education programs.

Abstract

Cultural Astronomy sits at the intersection of our study of the universe and the human experience, exploring how we observe the stars, interpret their motions, and incorporate them into our perspectives of the nature of reality. "Astronomy in Appalachia" is a new Planetarium show, developed for the Planetarium at East Tennessee State University, that explores how the inherited experience of the night sky in Appalachia can be used as a part of Astronomy education, and how that can serve as a cross-cultural point of connection. Using Earth's seasons as an anchor, the show highlights several Appalachian folk science narratives, examining how they are rooted in Astronomy, and relating them to modern scientific interpretations of the cosmos. This article describes the lessons our team learned while researching, scripting, and developing this new program.