NASA’s new Instagram augmented reality filter brings the wonders of the cosmos to users in a whole new way. A special 3D project on Instagram utilizes data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes to create augmented reality (AR) experiences that allow users to virtually travel through objects in space. These new AR experiences, including the debris fields of exploded stars, are being released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Chandra’s operations. With the advancement of technologies like virtual, extended, and augmented reality, users can now access cosmic data on their mobile phones, bringing Chandra’s groundbreaking discoveries right to their fingertips.
The Instagram experiences feature 3D models based on data collected by Chandra and mathematical models, allowing users to explore celestial objects in three dimensions. Traditionally, gathering 3D data of objects in our galaxy has been challenging due to their two-dimensional projection. However, recent advancements in instruments and techniques have enabled astronomers to construct more data-driven models of distant objects in space.
This new set of Chandra Instagram experiences is the result of a collaboration between NASA, the Smithsonian Institution, and students and researchers at Brown University. It includes objects like the Tycho supernova remnant, the Vela Pulsar, the Helix Nebula, the Cat’s Eye Nebula, and the Chandra spacecraft. Users can enjoy these effects for free on mobile devices for at least six months, with some experiences available indefinitely on the Smithsonian’s Voyager 3D website. By incorporating data sonifications of celestial objects, users can also hear representations of the cosmic data, creating an immersive and educational experience for audiences of all ages.
