Exploring the Frontiers of Space in 3D

Title: 
Exploring the Frontiers of Space in 3D

Presenter:
Chris Impey (University of Arizona, USA)

Collaborators:
Alexander Denehy (University of Arizona, USA)
Metthew Wenger (University of Arizona, USA)

This was a poster presented at the 5th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, http//astro4edu.org).

Immersive virtual reality provides an excellent way to experience astronomy facilities that the public generally cannot visit. Epic Games’ Unreal Engine has been used to create a 3D exhibit where visitors use a game controller to walk their avatars among cutting-edge optical and radio telescopes, with the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes hovering overhead. Several of the telescopes are animated. OSIRIS-Rex is seen next to a detailed and suitably scaled rendition of the Bennu asteroid, and part of the virtual real estate is textured as a Martian surface with several Mars missions included. Visits are self-guided with interactive posters giving the main scientific results of the various telescopes and missions.

About the 5th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education:
This year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education focuses on two themes: one special practical astronomy education topic and one scientific topic. The special topic is astronomy education outside the classroom, looking at how astronomy can be taught in a diverse range of environments such as science centers, planetaria and youth clubs. The scientific topic is planetary atmospheres, both in the solar system and exoplanets as well as our own Earth. The workshop was organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (http://astro4edu.org). More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/5th-shaw-iau-workshop/schedule/

Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/

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