Development and Evaluation of Mobile Augmented Reality for Astronomy (MARA)

Mobile Augmented Reality technology offers innovative ways to engage students and enhance astronomy education by enabling interaction with virtual celestial objects and simulations. Traditional teaching methods often struggle to effectively convey abstract astronomical concepts and maintain student interest. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop mobile Augmented Reality for astronomy. This paper describes the development of Mobile Augmented Reality for Astronomy, a markerless mobile AR game aimed at making learning about astronomy enjoyable and engaging. MARA consists of nine mini-games, each focusing on different aspects of the solar system planets and phenomena. The Game Development Lifecycle methodology guided the design and development process. An evaluation was conducted involving visitors at an astronomy complex and school students. The results demonstrated high levels of participant engagement, enjoyment, and perceived learning effectiveness with MARA. The findings suggest that incorporating mobile AR technology with gamification elements can transform astronomy education by offering immersive and interactive learning experiences. MARA showcases the potential of mobile AR to transform the teaching of complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging activities for learners. Further research is recommended to refine and expand the reach of mobile AR educational games like MARA.