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 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.

In the near future, such 3D models will be made available in "virtual reality" or VR environments, and two prototypes (Tycho and UScorpii) are currently on the Chandra website.

Related Links
Chandra X-ray Observatory
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It

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