NASA | MSFC | SAO | Chandra X-ray Observatory | 2020 Jan 29
Since ancient times, the study of astronomy has largely been limited to the flat, two-dimensional projection of what appears on the sky. However, just like a botanist puts a plant under a microscope or a paleontologist digs for fossils, astronomers want more "hands on" ways to visualize objects in space.A Quick Look at 3D VisualizationsClick to play embedded YouTube video.
Credit: INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo/Salvatore Orlando/CXC
A new set of computer simulations represents an exciting step in that direction. Each is a three-dimensional (3D) visualization of an astronomical object based on data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other X-ray observatories. While unable to fly to these distant objects and travel around them, astronomers have used data from these observatories to learn about the geometry, velocity, and other physical properties of each of these cosmic sources.
This compilation of 3D visualizations was created by Salvatore Orlando of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo and his colleagues. Each of these computer simulations is available using free software that is supported by most platforms and browsers and allows users to interact with and navigate 3D models as they choose. ...
These 3D models are also part of the VR collection "Universe in Hands" ...