Astrophysicists try to share the mysteries of the Universe around us in a clear & understandable fashion, but we don’t always succeed. It’s a hard challenge – the wonders of the Solar System, the Galaxy, and the ever expanding Cosmos demand more of our imaginations than can be captured by numbers in a table or terms in an equation. However, a work of art can uniquely inspire us to look closely, to dream freely, to understand openly – anything from the smallest curiosity to the biggest discovery.

We’re asking members of the MIT community to create works of art that help us visualize our Universe and how we observe it. Whether you’re a photographer or a poet, a crafter or a coder, a musician or a moviemaker, we want you to use your talents and creativity to illuminate the beauty of astrophysical results. Please consider participating in this year’s Art of Astrophysics competition during MIT’s 2014 Independent Activities Period.

Entries must be received by January 29, 2014 at 5pm EST. Full details: The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics http://space.mit.edu/symposium/iap/2014/astro_art/

The competition will culminate in an exhibition on Friday, January 31 in Lobby 10 from 4:00-5:30pm.