Student interpretation of space science imagery and representations

Space science uses a great deal of imagery, such as X-ray pictures of the solar corona, to convey information. It also deals with complex, three-dimensional structures, such as the substorm current wedge, that are generally rendered in two dimensions. In this study we will discuss naive student interpretations of SOHO EIT images of the Sun, and point out broadly-based misconceptions. We will also discuss student interpretation of 2-D renderings of 3-D concepts, and place those findings in the context of research into Expert-Novice differences. This work is an initial investigation in a long-term research program in understanding viewer response to visualizations involving stills, movies, 2-D and 3-D images.