Planetarium

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Observatory, Astronomical Observatory

Category

Public Facilities, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location of a planetarium or observatory

	Source	Description
	Ecuador	Outside view of an observatory with telescope
	Peru 2016	Outside view of an observatory
	Québec	Outside view of an observatory, several stars above
	DER	Stars inside dome, telescope below
	ISO 7001	Stars and planets inside dome
	Aragón	Arrangement of planets

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

Several concepts exist to indicate the location of a planetarium or an observatory: Besides pictograms displaying some typical architectural elements of an observatory, various arrangements of stars or typical planets, or combinations of such elements can be found. Some designers also added components indicating a telescope to support clarity of the intended message.

In our research we did not discover any test data on features like comprehensibility, familiarity, concreteness, simplicity, or any other aspects of pictograms used to indicate the location of a planetarium or an observatory. It also is not clear, whether specific pictograms offering a differentiation between astronomical observatories and planetaria are necessary or not, and if the general public would reliably understand this differentiation based on pictograms.

Recommendations

Due to the fact, that no data from research is available, and since we have insufficient knowledge of relevant factors, we recommend testing using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs.

Tests of pictograms of referent Planetarium

No test data available.