IuStar

https://iustar.000webhostapp.com/

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rr4j_fbejr7JHzbHQwZmL-yY_koV5EaX?usp=sharing

  Developed to be simple and informative, we make available a great range of information gathered in an intuitive, straightforward, and fun way (for free). We aim to be precise in informing people, keeping it as simple as possible, in a commonly used mean of communication, the internet. People may see beautiful bright points randomly scattered through the celestial "mesh" when they look at the sky. Nevertheless, there is plenty of information about these stellar bodies, and there is a logic behind the light it irradiates, its position changing, and its variability. We solve this challenge as we reunite this massive and complicated information, synthesizing it in an understandable way for all groups of people. We considered all 12 types of intelligence a user might have (ref. theory of multiple intelligences created by the Harvard developmental psychologist Howard Gardner) and their location (the website can be accessed everywhere with internet access). Its accessibility, moreover a didactical approach, would popularize scientific knowledge and broaden the understanding of stellar variability, which would also be a great strategy to solve the challenge at hand. On our prototype, we have shown five functionalities: Stelar NEWS, daily curiosities, a complete catalog of all stars discovered, a virtual 3d galaxy map, and a web game. Explaining the functionalities: The Stelar NEWS and "Curiosities" will be on the homepage of our website; the first one will contain daily news selected based on NASA missions, educational astronomy videos, and scientific articles regarding Star discovery, satellites, the physics behind star formation, brightness, important achievements, etc. If our users want to see more than the daily news or video selected, they can click on its icon and access our entire catalog of news articles and videos; Similar to the "Star NEWS," curiosities will also be shown on the home page (by clicking on an astronaut located on the lower right of the page) and selected on a daily basis (the user can also access our entire catalog of interests by clicking on its icon). Differently from Star News, curiosities are shorter and aim for a faster read. 

The Stars' catalog, as it says, will be a catalog of every star discovered by NASA satellites, 

           The virtual Galaxy map will utilize the existing NASA Skymap with modifications. The intention is to encompass all stars within NASA satellites' reach with gamified icons that, when clicked or dragged, will show essential information, such as name, temperature, formation, variability, distance from earth, and size.

          Our last and most important functionality is a web game called RISE & SHINE. RISE & SHINE is an 8-bit game intended to attend all audiences focused on exploring stellar corpses, with the objective of both entertaining and teaching. It is a Single-player experience. The player can choose his spaceship through many design options, and, once selected, the game is started, and the spacecraft takes off into the galaxy. While in navigation, the vehicle will come across several planets and variable stars. When the ship approaches, a star can be collected and added to the STARDEX, an INDEX of collectible stars in the game. Once caught, it will be registered in this INDEX, showing information about the star, such as name, curiosity, brightness, origin, and formation process. Beyond the data, while catching and collecting, we will have an auxiliary font of information, professor Albert Einstein. He will guide the users through their unique journey, explaining the physics behind a space voyage and behind stars. For example, he may explain the differences between the two types of variable stars: intrinsic and extrinsic variables.

       Moreover, the professor will constantly appear in the home and loading, instigating players' curiosity. Behind Space exploration, the users can return to a NASA earth launch base, where they can learn about the most famous Space agency's telescopes, such as James Webb and Kepler. All information regarding gameplay and controls will be shown on the menu page, which the player can access by clicking on the "menu" button above the "play" button on the home page.

To get information about variable stars, we mainly used articles and studies from São Paulo University and open data from NASA for KIDS. The first one was essential to help us filter the most important facts about stars and scientists. In parallel, with NASA for KIDS we could understand what is the best way to convey simplified scientific language to different audiences, especially children. 

Iustar's Hackathon journey was, at minimum, transformative. Being all members first participation in NASA Space Apps, every individual demonstrated different abilities in other branches of knowledge but exercised its functions with perseverance and proactivity.

Iustar derives from IUVENIS, an educational enterprise that carries a philosophy of democratizing quality education throughout Brazil. Hence, we were highly inspired by our educational purpose, which motivated us to create a website and web game that provides knowledgeable content about the variability of the stars, encouraging players to explore and study astronomy. Intending to disseminate scientific education, we bring relevant information to society, thus forming better citizens that will understand and endorse its importance for human evolution.

Many of our setbacks were regarding time; we had to separate our work due to further particular issues. Nevertheless, we always coordinated our tasks by every mean possible, messaging one another or taking turns. We did all in order to deliver the best project possible!

Indeed, it was a challenging weekend. We passed through many difficulties; however, they were essential for our growth as individuals and, most importantly, as a team, and we are grateful for them. 

• https://public.nrao.edu/ask/why-do-stars-appear-to-move-in-the-night-sky/#:~:text=These%20apparent%20star%20tracks%20are,to%20west%20in%20the%20sky.
• https://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/ua/starmotion.htm - Physics behind star movement
• Estrelas vari\'aveis (ufrgs.br) - Informations about stars variability
• Microsoft PowerPoint - EstrelasVariaveis.Bete.ppt (usp.br)- Informations about stars variability
• Play Games and More at NASA Kids' Club! | NASA
• 03-stars-cepheid-variable-star-rs-puppis.pdf (nasa.gov)
• Imagine the Universe! (nasa.gov)
• https://www.construct.net/en
• Excel- Microsoft

#WEBGAME #EDUCATION #LETSPLAY #ASTRONOMY #LITTLESTARS