Enabling Outreach with Virtual Observatories

Abstract.

Virtual observatories are potentially excellent vehicles for public outreach and education because they can put anyone in direct contact with the data that professional astronomers use. However, our vast wealth of sophisticated information poses a daunting challenge. How are we to present astronomical data to the public in ways that will intrigue them and inspire exploration instead of driving them away, bewildered and confused? This article outlines some approaches to outreach being planned by the National Virtual Observatory collaboration.