Accessibility at ICHB: Opening the Universe to Everyone
The International Catalogue of Heavenly Bodies (ICHB.ORG) firmly believes that the wonders of the Universe should be accessible to every person on Earth — regardless of language, culture, physical abilities, or place of residence. Accessibility is not merely about meeting standards; it is the fundamental foundation of our mission, uniting humanity through a shared love for the stars.
🌍 We Speak the Language of the Stars — in All Languages of the Earth
Thanks to our extensive network of partners — major astronomical organizations, institutes, and official representatives in key regions of the planet — ICHB.ORG is present in territories inhabited by more than 93% of the world’s population. Each of our partners has not merely translated the site but has adapted it to their own cultural context.
🌐 Language Accessibility: Live Translation by Native Speakers
The languages available in the site menu (in the top right corner) have been manually translated by native speakers — our partners and official representatives of ICHB.ORG in their respective regions. This is not machine translation, but careful work by professional astronomers and linguists who ensure terminological accuracy and natural flow.
Available languages with manual translation:
ICHB.ORG Partners:
✓ Major astronomical organizations
✓ Scientific institutes
✓ Official representatives
✓ Professional linguists
✨ Fully Translated Website Versions (Manual Translation):
Each of these versions has been created by our partners — major astronomical organizations and institutes in the respective countries.
🌍 We Are Accessible to the Majority of the Planet’s Population
billion people
of the world’s population
countries covered
Our 20+ manually translated languages cover regions inhabited by more than 7.5 billion people — approximately 93% of the world’s population. And with automatic translation available in all other languages, we can confidently say that ICHB.ORG is accessible to virtually every inhabitant of the Earth.
*Based on Ethnologue and UN data (2023–2024)
🔄 For Other Languages — Automatic Translation
For countries where we do not yet have official representatives, or where partners have not yet completed manual translation, we offer automatic translation via the built-in widget. Automatic translation may not be perfect, so if you have questions or doubts, we recommend consulting the English versionof the site. However, even machine translation is better than having no information in your native language at all.
Our Accessibility Commitment
If you experience any difficulties using the ICHB website due to a disability or health limitations, please contact our accessibility team. We strive to create a community united by people and supported by technology — a community open to the widest possible audience.
We are creating opportunities for people of all abilities, making our platform more accessible. This includes people with special needs, such as those with visual or hearing impairments, as well as people with limited mobility and cognitive disabilities.
🌍 Accessibility is Part of Our Core Mission
Knowledge for All
Astronomy belongs to all humanity
Without Barriers
Language, ability, or geography should not be obstacles
Inclusive Community
There is a place for everyone in astronomy
“The stars belong to everyone. Our task is to remove the barriers.” — ICHB Accessibility Charter
What We Do to Ensure Accessibility
To provide the widest possible audience with access to our content, features, and services, we have implemented a comprehensive accessibility program that goes far beyond basic compliance with standards. Below are the key directions of our approach:
🌐 Language Accessibility
We use an automatic translation system to cover more than 100 languages, and also provide fully translated versions for key regions through our partners. Select your language using the widgets located in the menu or in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Manual translation is available for 20+ major languages, automatic translation for all others.
🖼️ Visual Accessibility
We provide descriptive text for links and alternative text for all images. Screen reader users can confidently navigate our content, understanding both the purpose of links and the content of visual elements.
🎨 Design and Development
We consider accessibility from the very beginning of the design process. We follow color contrast recommendations to make content clearer for users with visual impairments.
🧪 Testing with Real Users
We involve people with disabilities in testing. Our accessibility features are validated by those who depend on them, ensuring continuous improvement.
🖱️ Keyboard Navigation
Full keyboard navigation is supported throughout the site, ensuring that users with limited mobility can access everything we offer.
📄 Clear Structure
We use proper heading hierarchies and semantic HTML so that assistive technologies can correctly interpret the structure of our content.
Why Accessibility Matters for Astronomical Data
The International Catalogue of Heavenly Bodies contains hundreds of thousands of named objects — stars, exoplanets, galaxies, and surface features. This knowledge belongs to all humanity, not only to those with certain abilities, resources, or language proficiency.
🔭 For Researchers
Astronomers with visual impairments deserve equal access to stellar data. Our compatibility with screen readers ensures that research is not limited by physical capabilities.
🌍 For Global Communities
People can access astronomical nomenclature in their native language thanks to manual translation by our partners or automatic translation tools.
📚 For Educators
Teachers working with students of all ability levels can rely on ICHB as an accessible resource for astronomy education.
🧑🚀 For Future Generations
We are building not only for today, but for tomorrow. Ensuring accessibility now means that future astronomers will have a fully accessible body of knowledge.
Accessibility Features You Can Use Today
🌐 Language Selection
Choose your preferred language from the top right menu or the bottom left corner. Manual translation is available for 20+ languages, and automatic translation for all others.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts
Full mouse-free navigation. Use Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, and arrow keys to navigate through all interactive elements.
📱 Responsive Design
Our site works on devices of all sizes and supports zoom up to 10x without loss of functionality.
🎯 Clear Focus Indicators
When navigating with the keyboard, you will always see where you are thanks to high-contrast focus indicators.
📢 Help Us Improve
If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using the ICHB websites, or if you have suggestions for improvement, please contact our accessibility team. Your feedback is essential to fulfilling our mission of creating an inclusive astronomical community.
accessibility@ichb.org
Within 2 business days
Your information is protected
ICHB.ORG strives to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. Our accessibility program is regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with evolving standards and user needs. This is an ongoing process, not a final goal.
