WorldWide Telescope brings stargazing online
Image 1 of 19
Abell 1689 galaxy cluster
Abell 1689 galaxy cluster
ntWorldWide Telescope is a new project from Microsoft Research that combines imagery of space and celestial objects into one easy-to-use interface. From the site’s overview page: “The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is a environment that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope–bringing together imagery from the world’s best ground- and space-based telescopes for the exploration of the universe.”
n
ntThis image is a high-resolution image of Abell 1689, a galaxy cluster in the constellation Virgo, as taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The image is embedded on the digitized sky that is the basis of WorldWide Telescope.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Jupiter
Jupiter
ntJupiter is also navigable in the WorldWide Telescope.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Saturn
Saturn
ntSaturn can also be turned and twisted in whichever way you would like to see it within the 3D solar system feature.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
2017 eclipse
2017 eclipse
ntThis image is a simulated view of the 2017 eclipse that will affect the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Terapixel before and after
Terapixel before and after
ntMicrosoft Research used something called Terapixel to take individual images and combine them into a seamless sky view.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Terapixel Sagittarius before
Terapixel Sagittarius before
ntThe first example of the Terapixel effect is the constellation Sagittarius. This image shows the various images that make up the constellation.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Terapixel Sagittarius after
Terapixel Sagittarius after
ntAfter the Terapixel smoothing process, Sagittarius has a smoother view.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Terapixel Scorpius before
Terapixel Scorpius before
ntAnother example of the Terapixel effect is the constellation Scorpius. There are various images that make up this view of the constellation.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Terapixel Scorpius after
Terapixel Scorpius after
ntAfter the Terapixel smoothing process, Scorpius has a smoother view.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Fermi All Sky Survey
Fermi All Sky Survey
ntNot all of the data in WorldWide Telescope is visible light. Some imagery, like this gamma ray shot, is taken in various segments of the EM spectrum.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Apollo 12 landing site
Apollo 12 landing site
ntThe WorldWide Telescope also has panoramic imagery of various exploration sites, including the Apollo 12 landing site and several panoramas of Mars.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Andromeda Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
ntSeveral of the countless galaxies beyond our own are featured in WorldWide Telescope, including the Andromeda Galaxy.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Mars volcanic vent
Mars volcanic vent
ntImagery from various exploration probes, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, is also included in WorldWide Telescope. This image is a volcanic vent near Athabasca Valles.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Mars Utopia Planitia
Mars Utopia Planitia
ntThis image is of an impact crater that was taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Utopia Planitia (well, orbiting above) is where the Enterprise-D will be built in the 2360s.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Mars Olympus Mons
Mars Olympus Mons
ntOlympus Mons is the tallest known mountain in the solar system. This image was taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Another view of Mars Olympus Mons
Another view of Mars Olympus Mons
ntThis view of Olympus Mons was created by combining images taken by the Viking orbiters and the Mars Orbiter Camera.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Mars Valles Marineris
Mars Valles Marineris
ntAnother prominent feature of Mars is Valles Marineris. This view was created by combining images taken by the Viking orbiters and the Mars Orbiter Camera.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula
ntThe Orion Nebula is a very famous spatial object and is often printed for posters. WorldWide Telescope contains vast imagery of this and many other nebulae.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
Messier 81 galaxy
Messier 81 galaxy
ntAnother galaxy the WorldWide Telescope can zoom in on is Messier 81.
n
ntImage used with permission from Microsoft. Caption by Wally Bahny.
