Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences for All-Sky Data
Abstract
Spherical coordinate systems, which are ubiquitous in astronomy, cannot be shown without distortion on flat, two-dimensional surfaces. This poses challenges for the two complementary phases of visual exploration -- making discoveries in data by looking for relationships, patterns or anomalies -- and publication -- where the results of an exploration are made available for scientific scrutiny or communication. This is a long-standing problem, and many practical solutions have been developed. Our allskyVR approach provides a workflow for experimentation with commodity virtual reality head-mounted displays. Using the free, open source S2PLOT programming library, and the A-Frame WebVR browser-based framework, we provide a straightforward way to visualise all-sky catalogues on a user-centred, virtual celestial sphere. The allskyVR distribution contains both a quickstart option, complete with a gaze-based menu system, and a fully customisable mode for those who need more control of the immersive experience. The software is available for download from: https://github.com/cfluke/allskyVR
Cite
@article{arxiv.1805.03354,
title = {Immersive Virtual Reality Experiences for All-Sky Data},
author = {C. J. Fluke and D. G. Barnes},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1805.03354},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
11 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia