The Astrosky Ecosystem: An independent online platform for science communication and social networking

TL;DR

The Astrosky Ecosystem is an open-source platform enabling astronomers to create independent social media networks, reducing reliance on commercial services and enhancing science communication and outreach.

Contribution

It introduces an open-source social media infrastructure for astronomy using the AT Protocol, promoting independent and resilient science communication.

Findings

Developed open-source tools for astronomy social media

Demonstrated feasibility of independent social networks

Enhanced resilience of science communication platforms

Abstract

While almost everything that astronomers study occurs in the vacuum of space, astronomy itself does not `happen in a vacuum'. Interactions between scientists, as well as outreach to members of the public, improve extensively from access to good communication tools. Social media has become a key tool for communication in astronomy, being widely used by individuals and organizations alike for networking, outreach, and more. However, traditional social media is reliant on benevolent corporations providing a free service without compromising on quality, and the recent takeover and decline of Twitter has shown how vulnerable these platforms can be. In this proceeding, we present The Astrosky Ecosystem, which is an initiative to develop open-source tools and integrations for social media, principally the Bluesky social network. We explain how our project enables the astronomy community to operate its own social media infrastructure, independent of for-profit corporations. We also discuss some of the project's technical aspects, including its use of the AT Protocol for social networking, before concluding with ideas for the future.