Finished! Looks like this project is out of data at the moment!
Thank you for all of your hard work! Phase 2 of Star Notes is now complete! For more information see our Talk Thread.
FAQ
Why is this project being done?
The goal of this project is to preserve the work of early astronomers. Many of these astronomers made great strides not only in the field of astronomy but also in gender equality. By understanding the way that the universe looked in the late 1800s/early 1900s, we can understand how the universe has changed and how our understanding of astronomy has developed.
Where are these images coming from?
These images all come directly from notebooks by female astronomers that the Center for Astrophysics has in their collection. We have hundreds of notebooks that have been digitized. Click here to go to our website and see the finding aid. Here you can search through all of the digitized notebooks.
Why does this project need to be crowdsourced through Zooniverse?
We have a small staff here at the Wolbach Library in the Center for Astrophysics. Some of our staff members are part time student workers as well. We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers in the Zooniverse community for helping us with this project.
While we are getting transcription data from the Smithsonian Transcription Center, we also have our project on Zooniverse so that we can specifically look for the plate numbers. The transcription project will allow people to search the entire notebooks, while the plate number project will allow us to connect the plate numbers with the glass plates.
What will be done with the data?
The data will be provided to the research team on a spreadsheet. The data will then be used to connect the plate numbers with the physical glass plate collection. The glass plates are being digitized as well, so then the plate numbers will be connected with the images of the plates. Researchers will be able to learn more about the discoveries made using the plates. We will also be able to connect the plate numbers in the notebooks with the physical glass plates to see which astronomers worked on which glass plates.
How can I help out more with this project in a different way?
You can help transcribe the journals over at the Smithsonian Transcription Center. On that website, you would be transcribing all of the writing on the page instead of identifying plate numbers. Click here to be taken to the Smithsonian Transcription Center.
You can also follow Project PHaEDRA on Instagram (@projectphaedra) or Twitter to see updates on our project.
Can I go back and edit if I make a mistake?
Unfortunately, once you click “done,” our spreadsheets will be updated with the data and you will not be able to go back and edit. But no worries if you make a mistake! Many Zooniverse volunteers will be looking at the same pages to help get an average location of the plate numbers, and resolve any discrepancies or missed plate numbers.
How can I ask a question that is not in the FAQ?
Come join us over on the “Talk” boards if you have questions or comments! We would be happy to answer any questions that you have about Project PHaEDRA or the Zooniverse project.
How can I get volunteer credit for my school, etc.?
You can fill out this form to get credit for your volunteer hours. Please keep track of your own hours. You can also email phaedra@cfa.harvard.edu if you have any questions.
Interested in taking our survey? Click here!