SCOPE: Cosmus [Projects]

Most projects here are electronic visuals that can be used to help the public understand astronomical and cosmological concepts. But there are exceptions, such as visuals for other subjects and an evaluation of how these visuals have been used in a museum setting.

Some visuals are standalone and can be used as soon as they are downloaded. Others are interactive and require facilitation by someone while they are playing.

You are free to use any of our material you desire, we just ask that you credit us and, if possible, tell us you are using it with a quick email in the spirit of freeware, so that we know where our pieces are being used.

	Sloan Digital Sky Survey SDSS Galaxy Fly-through An interactive 3D view of the large scale structure of the universe. Data courtesy of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. SDSS Movie A movie that takes the viewer from a terrestrial perspective at the Apache Point Observatory on to a fly through of galaxies at the edge of the universe. Narrated by Josh Frieman. APO Walkthrough An interactive virtual visit to the Apache Point Observatory(APO), home of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Stereo Photographs A virtual tour of the APO, home of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, based on photographs taken by Jurek Krzesinski. Back to top of page
	VERITAS - Telescope Array VERITAS Walkthough An interactive virtual visit to one of the gamma ray telescopes from the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) that is currently under construction in southern Arizona. VERITAS Stereo Photographs VERITAS Panoramas More virtual tours of the VERITAS sites, based on photographs taken by Brian Humensky. VERITAS Cherenkov Photon Showers VERITAS Collaboration Map . An earth globe with the locations of the primary institutions in the VERITAS collaboration. Back to top of page
	Cosmology Dark Matter Simulations Daisuke Nagai of the University of Chicago provided data of a simulation of dark and baryonic matter. Back to top of page
	Pierre Auger Ultra High Energy Proton Shower Here are animations and models of a 10¹⁹eV proton shower over the array of tanks at Malargue in Argentina. Plus other visuals. Cosmic Ray Showers More showers created using Sergio Sciutto's AIRES simulation package, after some modifications by Maximo Ave et al. Stereo Photographs Stereo photographs taken by Randy Landsberg in Argentina in late 2004. Back to top of page
	Adaptive Optics Stars at the Center of our Galaxy Andrea Ghez et al at the UCLA Galactic Center Group have observed the individual motion of stars at the center of the Milky Way, despite the high density of stars there. These observations indicate the presence of a huge black hole there. Back to top of page
(coming soon!)	Stereo Photography Archive Mars in Color from Adler Planetarium Pierre Auger Observatory taken by Randy Landsberg SDSS/Apache Point Observatory taken by Jurek Krzesinski VERITAS/Whipple & Kitt Peak Observatories taken by Brian Humensky SZA/Owens Valley Radio Observatory taken by Chris Greer (non-stereo photos: 1, 2) Yerkes Observatory taken by Randy Landsberg Back to top of page
	Other Astronomical Visualizations Earth at Night 3D views of the Earth in the night and day, past and present, based on images from the NOAO and NASA. Planetary Scales Demonstrates the different scales of Solar System planets in relation to the sun and each other. Milky Way A model of the Milky Way that isn't a simple photograph. Milky Way Stars The stars nearest to Earth in the Milky Way. Back to top of page
	Non-Astronomical Visualizations Clustering Patterns of Digits What happens when software originally written for astronomy-related stuff gets used for other stuff. College Football Conferences A 3d graph that is fun to play with, with and without stereo. Back to top of page
	Evaluation of Museum Exhibits
	Visitor Engagement in GeoWall Exhibits Joi Podgorny's 2003-4 Masters Thesis on "Studying Visitor Engagement in Virtual Reality Based Children's Science Museum Exhibits". This site contains her thesis, observations, and other explanations. Back to top of page
	Works in Progress Mad Libs Using metaphors to teach cosmological concepts (needs Shockwave player - only for Windows/Mac platforms). Back to top of page

Sloan Digital Sky Survey

VERITAS - Telescope Array

Other Astronomical Visualizations

Non-Astronomical Visualizations

Evaluation of Museum Exhibits

Works in Progress