Abstract:
The purpose of this project was to create promotional materials for the Ball State planetarium, and to improve existing media (i.e. the website pertaining to the planetarium). Using the 16-inch telescope at the Ball State observatory and the remotely controlled .9 meter SARA telescope at Kitt Peak, Arizona, I took a series of exposures of various astronomical targets in three different color filters. I processed this data to remove background noise and instrumental error, and then imported the images into Photoshop, where I combined the color filters and adjusted the brightness, contrast, curves, and other properties of the combined image to maximize quality. Finally, I incorporated these images and others provided to me by my thesis advisor, Dr. Kaitchuck, into two tri-fold brochures and two posters assembled in Microsoft Office Publisher. I have included text from the planetarium's segment of the Ball State website in the brochures and posters, and have noted several suggestions for reducing confusion and maximizing efficiency and quality of online presentation in this analysis. (Said suggestions will also be submitted to the Physics department for their review.)
