space tour 3d planetarium trailer

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Distant planets, black holes and supernovas. Take a trip to the most beautiful places of the universe while listening to the beautiful music.

Description

Fulldome show “Space Tour” takes us on a journey to the most beautiful places of the universe. Acompanied by rock and pop hits we visit black holes, exoplanets and even wormholes. We marvel at auroras and supernova explosions and their colourful remnants.

“Space Tour” is a special show that combines entertainment and education. While you sit back relaxed and listen to timeless music you fly deeper and deeper into the universe and along the way you learn interesting facts about the travel destinations of our “Space Tour”.

A fulldome show for planetariums and digital dome theatres.

Trailer Credits for additional Clips: Supernova Explosions – ESA, ESO, Hubble, SpaceEngine, L. Calçada, Nick Risinger (skysurvey.org), T. Matsopoulos Black Holes – ESO, L. Calçada, SpaceEngine, Jordy Davelaar et al., Radboud University, BlackHoleCam, Theofanis Matsopoulos, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, CI Lab The Big Bang – NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab Warptunnel Textures – NASA, ESA, STScI

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Sternenreisen Space Tour 3D

Empfohlen ab 12 Jahren.

• Space Tour 3D

Lernen Sie Planeten, Sterne und die unvorstellbaren räumlichen Tiefen des Weltalls auf spektakuläre Art und Weise kennen - ohne Ihren bequemen Liegesessel im Sternensaal des Planetariums zu verlassen. Die neue 3D-Technik und 8K-Bildqualität des Planetariums erlaubt uns einen Flug durch das Universum, bei dem der räumliche Aufbau des Kosmos geradezu "ins Auge springt".

Unsere Piloten und Sternennavigatoren führen Sie von unserer Erde durch das Sonnensystem und hinaus in die Weiten der Sterne und Galaxien. Nie waren die Sterne so nah und der Kosmos so anschaulich wie hier! Eintritt: 13,50 Euro, ermäßigt 9,- Euro. Dauer ca. 60 Minuten. Empfohlen ab 12 Jahren.

Jetzt buchen

Die nächsten Termine

Reservierung von Rollstuhlplätzen  | Für Rollstuhlfahrer haben wir im Sternensaal spezielle Plätze. Bitte nutzen Sie unsere telefonische Buchung: +49 (40) 428 86 52 - 10

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Musik & Kultur VARGO's Sundowner Deluxe

Planet Erde Kanada – Durch Weite und Wildnis

mit Achill Moser & Aaron Moser

Sternenreisen Die Apollo-Missionen zum Mond – Capcom Go! 3D

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• Space Tour 3D - Unser Kosmos live und in 3D | Planetarium Hamburg

Empfohlen ab 12 Jahren.

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Space Tour 3D

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Planetarium Hamburg Fan-Report: Bewertungen und Rezensionen

207 bewertungen (ø 4,08), spazzacamini.

Hauptsächlich etwas für Insider. Aber gut.

Schönes Event

Es war ein tolles Event, man wurde verzaubert von der Musik von Queen, Lichter und Lasershow. Einen Abzug bei der Sauberkeit des Showrooms, man hätte ruhig mal Staubsaugen können. Aber ich kann es auf jedenfall empfehlen-wenn man Queen mag.

Tolles Erlebnis

Tolles Erlebnis. Hat Spaß gemacht.

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NASA VR / 360 multimedia for Planetarium Shows and Informal Education

Length:  ~ 5 minutes each Cost:  Free Last updated:  April 2024 Format: Live, interactive, and short clips/stills, with some fully immersive Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, and some Augmented Reality (AR) experiences  Software: Digital Sky 2 buttons, Uniview instructions, Digistar instructions, Digitalis instructions, Emerald Planetarium instructions, Shira player instructions, ePlanetarium instructions, OpenSpace instructions , some Rift, some Vive, and general media

Tagline:  “Step inside NASA's shoes.”

This is a collection of media and tools, which includes 360 spherical images/videos using equirectangular warping.  Members can access  an interactive, planetarium curriculum using these assets.  The media here should be usable by most digital planetarium systems, headset Virtual Reality, and smartphone VR setups, with minimum extra work to import them. There are also some true, interactive VR experiences listed on this page.  Files are downloadable below, including videos. See the NASA Media Use Policy  and the  JPL Image Use Policy .

Latest addition:   From NASA JPL, Explore Mars’ Gediz Vallis Channel With NASA’s Curiosity Rover , downloadable 8k version here .  From NASA Kennedy,  360 View Inside Artemis Emergency Egress Basket , available in higher than 4k resolution upon request .

Need help or have quesitons?   [email protected]

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory  specializes in robotic space and Earth exploration, and is home to the Deep Space Network .
• NASA Marshall Space Flight Center specializes in rocket engines and human spaceflight assembly.
• NASA Kennedy Space Center  specializes in launching space missions.
• NASA Johnson Space Center specializes in human exploration and operations.
• NASA Ames Research Center specializes in information technology, aerospace, and aeronautics.
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center  specializes in space telescopes, solar missions, and test chambers.  It's also home of the Scientific Visualization Studio, who has its own  360 and planetarium  content.
• NASA Langley Research Center specializes in aviation, Earth's atmosphere, and technology.
• NASA Glenn Research Center specializes in developing technology for aeronautics and space, including communications, propulsion, biomedical, and more.
• NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center  specializes in aircraft innovations including design, fabrication, operations, and more.
• NASA Stennis Space Center  specializes in rocket propulsion testing.
• NASA partners and projects  includes Hubble, Chandra, and other content.
• Other space-related VR and 360 content

For the public to try at home, view these YouTube 360 videos using your mobile device or computer, no goggles or other equipment is required.  Total length of the entire playlist is over 2.5 hours long (data charges may apply).  Pick your favorites and wow your friends and family with a rocket launch or trip to Mars!  Also, while not strictly VR, try the web browser 360 experience  NASA's Home and City  that details NASA spin offs. There may be some third-party content on this page.  NASA does not endorse third-party content.  Any third-party content is provided as examples of how NASA science can be used.  Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in third-party materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.

Possible uses for museums and educators include the following:

• Use inside your existing planetarium shows, e.g. live, "space update" or "sky tonight" shows (see more information below for talking points), or use them in creating new shows.
• Use the alpha-channeled images as accurate panoramas for Martian landscapes.
• Use in a classroom, library, on the museum floor, or at a science festival.  They work with most mobile devices, computers, and of course full VR rigs.  Download for offline use to increase performance and reliabilty, and to decrease cellular data usage or Wi-Fi congestion.  Third party VR players may be needed.

NASA 360 videos and VR experiences:

• JPL Virtual Tour
• Earth 360 Video: The Call of Science  with downloadable mp4 .  Also see clips from that feature , available for download .
• 5,000 Exoplanets: Listen to the Sounds of Discovery , downloadable here .  Note as of posting, this item has flipped the Milky Way layer.  A corrected version is downloadable here .
• TRAPPIST-1d  - information for the artist concept  surface 360 video , with  labeled  and  unlabeled  stills (See more  TRAPPIST-1 art )
• See our other exoplanet surface 360 web experiences , includes talking points and features of interest on the surfaces.
• From the above web experience, download the 8K still of Kepler-16b's moon surface artist concept , and members can download modified versions of Kepler-186f's surface  here .
• NASA Solar System Treks for Mars  and the Moon  feature "Experience TrekVR" under the settings "wrench," which is compatible with smartphone and goggle set ups.
• JPL Space Flight Operations Facility and Mars Yard  - With static images of  Mars Yard  featuring Christina Diaz ,  SFOF  featuring Tracy Drain , as well as the Rover Ride Along  360 video
• Perseverance 360 "Van Zyl" view complete with audio , 8k file , 23k file , and 8k labeled version .
• The first panorama from the Perseverance rover , with downloadable 4k file .
• Explore Mars’ Gediz Vallis Channel With NASA’s Curiosity Rover , downloadable 8k version here .
• Curiosity at Gediz Vallis Ridge , with downloadable still , labeled , and overlay  with separate image .
• Atop 'Mont Mercou' , with downloadable 360 PNG (higher than 8k) .
• Glen Torridon  - 8k mp4 .
• Teal Ridge - 8k MP4
• Vera Rubin Ridge - Departs 4K
• Vera Rubin Ridge Panorama for the  8K Curiosity Mars Rover on Vera Rubin Ridge
• Ogunquit Beach  
• Murray Buttes , and for the title image at the top of this page , see the original posting , and the JPL feature for talking points.
• Naukluft Plateau
• Namib Dune  - For members only, see a version with alpha channeled sky .
• Pathfinder  - talking points for the 360 video
• Spirit - October 2016 McMurdo Panorama with alpha channel sky
• The  Engineering for Mars 2020 file  is a compressed version of the full 1.3 GB file, which is  available here .  Learn more about  Mars 2020 .
• Engineering for Mars - Mars InSight mission  at the In-situ lab at JPL is a 360 video in 60fps. Learn more about Insight here , which is landing on Mars in November 2018, and hear our archived conversations with the mission leads . For those having playback issues, Mars InSight  has a compressed version that may work for your dome/headset.
• Cassini Grand Finale  - talking points for the  Cassini Farewell from JPL , which is a ZIP file containing select shots and clips from the 360 livestream from the Cassini mission end on September 15, 2017.  The full, Emmy-award winning , 90 minute, 234 GB file can be viewed  here on YouTube .  The flat screen version can be viewed  here on YouTube .  Also, there's the  360 animation .
• Ceres Occator Crater   - talking points for the  360 flyby
• Juno  - resources and talking points for the  360 animation  with  extra audio , and  360 mission control for Jupiter Orbit Insertion   back to the top
• 4K Virtual Tour  takes audiences inside Flight Hardware Development, Payload Operations, and Propulsion Research Facilities.  Download here as a ZIP file.
• 8K " Step Inside NASA's Rocket Factory: The Michoud Assembly Facility " with captions ,  4k option , and audio  - For those having playback issues  Michoud is a compressed version that may work for your dome/headset.
• NASA Marshall  working on the  Orion spacecraft
• The  Space Launch System's Intertank transportation  - the 8K file is encoded using H265, let us know if you need help processing it for your planetarium. For those having playback issues, SLS - Intertank  is a compressed version that may work for your dome/headset.
• The U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s “ISS: Science on Orbit” Exhibit , with 8k-upscaled, compressed download here (uncompressed 4GB video available upon request).
• Human Exploration Rover Challenge VR Test footage back to the top
•  360 View Inside Artemis Emergency Egress Basket , available in higher than 4k resolution upon request , compressed version available for download .
• Orion in 360 Degrees  video with downloadable stills here , here , and here .
• NASA’s Artemis I Rocket at Rollout , downloadable here .
• Orion to SLS 360 video with downloadable MP4
• Artemis I Stage Adapter Lift and Mate , with downloadable MP4
• Artemis I Core Stage Lift and Mate , with downloadable 4k MP4
• SLS Core Stage Pathfinder Lift, Camera 1 , and Camera 2
• Artemis Path to the Pad: Crawler-Transporter 2 , with downloadable 4k file .
• Artemis Path to the Pad: Testing, software and the Launch Control Center with even more
• Installation of Orion's Spacecraft Adapter Cone , with downloadable 4k file .
• A New Era in Spaceflight 
• Video Highlights
• Preparing to Launch America
• Boeing CST-100 Starliner
• SpaceX Crew Dragon
• Launching from Kennedy Space Center
• Train Like an Astronaut
• Walk inside the Vehicle Assembly Building that assembles rockets for their final launch configuration.  See the downloadable MP4 .
• For the Parker Solar Probe mission , see the Launch 360 , with an  extra audio file .
• For the  Tracking and Data Relay Satellites , see the  Launch 360  with an  extra audio file ​
• For  Osiris Rex , see the  Launch 360  with an  extra audio file   
• For the  Joint Polar Satellite System , see the  Launch 360  with an  extra audio file  
• For the GOES missions , see the GOES-S Launch in 360 back to the top
• Nine Ways We Use AR and VR on the International Space Station  - article only
• Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Tour
• For members, try this fisheye dome view from the ISS cupola , other ISS 360 content , and Space Shuttle 360 content
• NASA Astronaut training pool  with 4k downloadable .
• See inside the  HERA – the Human Exploration Research Analog  as well as outside
• Space Launch System Virtual Tour  for the Oculus Rift
• Spacesuit Training in a Vacuum  download link
• Welcome Home , the landing of the latest ISS crew in June 2018 back to the top
• Testing Small Spacecraft Communications Technology
• Wind Tunnel Test of NASA’s Most Powerful Rocket   back to the top
• A Web Around Asteroid Bennu , downloadable 8k version  here
• Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA)  downloadable 360 video
• Worldview Snapshots , an updated database of global mosaics of Earth, so you can download and display the very latest Earth image in your planetarium or other exhibit.  (Most uses will need the "Suomi" or the "NOAA" "True Color" maps.)
• Sample Asteroid Bennu in 360 , with downloadable HD file  and 8k file (for members only).
• Deep Star Maps  for rendering 360 space scenes
• Fly above Alaskan Glaciers
• Hubble Locations 360 Tour , Career Page , and Hubble Spacecraft 360 tour  (member planetariums can access an  offline version ).
• Black holes in 360
• James Webb 360  with audio , and James Webb at Johnson  
• Inside Hurricane Maria in 360
• Moon Phases in 360 designed for systems such as Science on a Sphere. 
• Hubble's 28th Anniversary from the Space Telescope Operations Control Center
• Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Orbital Fleet  animation
• Not strictly 360, but a spherical display projection of the 2017 eclipse . back to the top
• Take a  Virtual Tour  (scroll down at each location to see the interactive 360 images)
• For members, see the 360 media packet for offline use.
• 360 Video of Greased Lightning GL-10 in flight back to the top
• Take a Virtual Tour
• For members, see the 360 multimedia packet for offline use. back to the top
• Armstrong Virtual Tour
• NASA’s ER-2 Cockpit During HyspIRI Hawaii Mission  - download here for offline use.
• F-18 Sonic Boom Dive , with downloadable  mp4 back to the top
• RS-25 Engine Test, video from NASA MSFC , with a printable infographic about the RS-25 Engine , for the 4 minute and 2 minute cut. back to the top
• From Fiske Planetarium, with NASA partnerships, a collection of free fulldome movies and clips , including some VR 360 content, such as the Forward to the Moon 360 clip  from the newly released fulldome film.
• Final Ariane 5 liftoff , downloadable here .
• Updated International Space Station 360 tours , some in French with English subtitles, downloadable here  and here  with still images , latest addition Apr, 2022.
• Space Station 360  with online playlist , also an  ISS 360 Tour with astronaut Tim Peake
• From the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex,  Explore NASA’s 70-Meter Deep Space Communications Dish , with the Spanish Language version .
• 360 Virtual Tour of the Chandra Operations Control Center (OCC) , including other VR and relevant resources.
• Reach Across the Stars, women in STEM AR app
• Walking Among the Stars , a series of VR products including 360 videos, Vive, and AR
• An Immersive Visualization of the Galactic Center  - talking points for the  downloadable 360 video , and see the "sequel"  released in March 2019 with a downloadable 4k version . 
• Spitzer's Final Voyage 360 video  (and updated for 2021 ), 8k version available for download .
• NASA's Exoplanet Excursions VR Experience , for Vive, Oculus, and YouTube 360, downloadable 360 video here  (8k 60fps).  Planetariums and other content developers may also be interested in their TRAPPIST-1 planet surface textures .
• WebbVR  for the Vive, a free, "true VR," interactive game.
• Fly through the Orion Nebula.  Info and downloadable  dome masters for planetariums are here , and the  360 file is here .  Also, see the updated versions in Infrared , Visible , and Combined wavelengths, with those dome masters here: Infrared , Visible , and Combined .
• Space Telescope AR app, for iOS
• From Arizona State University, with NASA partnerships, a global and interplanetary  Virtual Field Trip  web experience and mobile experience . back to the top

Please note that NASA does not endorse or verify third-party commercial content.  These are examples of how NASA science can be used.  Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in third-party materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.

• From the Cedar Falls High School Rocket Club - a 360 look from inside a rocket launch on April 28, 2022  and one from April 8, 2022
• From Space Center Houston - Saturn V Rocket stages
• From the Planetarium Laupheim - free, fulldome feature "Red-Eye to the Star" planetarium movie about SOFIA , available in VR/360 format , too 
• From the Clark Planetarium, their "Dome from Home" Series of 360 videos .
• From the Museum of Science, Boston, tour NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center .
• From Lockheed Martin, see the loading of the Orion Spacecraft.
• From the BBC, Total Solar Eclipse from Space 360
• From the National Space Centre, in the UK, ObserVRtarium for Vive and Rift. Also, see the Capcom Go 360 video and AR apps about the Apollo missions.
• From the Smithsonian, 360 images and a full 3D model of the Apollo 11 CM  are a part of their full 3D printable collection.
• From the European Southern Observatory, there's a library of 360 panoramas , and VR videos
• From the BMC, Black Hole VR 360 video
• From BBI, Project Eagle: A 3D Interactive Mars Base  for the Vive.
• From Mission ISS , a 360 flythrough of a digital ISS  to accompany their Rift experience.
• From Google Street View - explore the ISS through Google Maps , and try this public photo library  to construct your own 360 or fulldome images/videos (members only) . 
• From FMG Labs, Mars 2030 VR experience  for Vive and Rift - read about it on the  NASA site , and note that the experience may be free for educators if you contact them with your educational email address.
• From Google Expeditions - host virtual tours of the Juno mission NASA centers, the ISS, Mars, and more.  Just search for "NASA" in the app.
• From NBC News: Inside Boeing's Starliner Capsule
• From 8i, Cycling Pathways on Mars for Vive, and a 360 trailer from TIME
• From USA Today, 360 walk on the Moon .
• From the New York Times, 360, narrated flyby of Pluto with New Horizons
• From NOAA, not exactly 360, but might still work for some setups -  Science on a Sphere Space database .
• Taken at the California Science Center, the  Endeavor  space shuttle talking points for the cylinder panorama in " JPL VR Images ZIP ."  Also, consider this  Space Shuttle 360 video , and this Space Shuttle Carrier 360 video .
• From the USGS,  Apollo 11  talking points for the cylinder panorama in " JPL VR Images ZIP " (note those cylinders can be easily converted to spherical 360 images). For members , see our Apollo 50th anniversary resource list . 
• From National Geographic One Strange Rock ~5-minute 3D 360 film about the ISS and astronauts.
• From the Planetary Society, see Seán Doran's  Curiosity selfie 360  (source of the page image)
• back to the top

As more 360º video and VR content is released, this page will be updated.  As general tips for planetariums using 360 video, most systems allow you to adjust the tilt and camera center within the spherical video so you can see more landscape, and/or focus on areas of interest throughout the video.  Play with a video to see what the best angles and positions are for your dome setup, and members can ask questions: [email protected] .

• Download the image/video
• Get a set of GPS coordinates to locate a sphere on an object (e.g., Earth or Mars).  
• Create an OpenSpace asset (see this example  for Mars at -4.69520223,137.3530064 ) where you can use the GlobeTranslation to attach a RenderableSphere to mars.  The GPS coordinates get fed to the GlobeTranslation and the image path gets fed to the RenderableSphere as a texture. 
• The 'Size' of the RenderableSphere in meters. For 360 images, the numbers are usually arbitrary.
• The Altitude of the GlobeTranslation, by default, when using the heightmap it will put the sphere 1/2 into the ground, so you may have to adjust the altitude based on the size value chosen.
• Then set the X, Y, and Z Rotation of the sphere.
• In the OpenSpace settings, open the NaigationHandler -> OrbitalNavigator and change the 'Minimum allowed distance" to 1 to get inside the panorama.  Ideally you'll want to locate yourself directly in, or as close to the center of the sphere to avoid too much warping of the view.  
• These  Digital Sky 2 buttons include example placement, movement and rotation buttons for your presenters to move and look around the simulations.  Note that these buttons are provided merely as examples, and contain only the first few 360 items that were released in 2016.  If you run into any issues using the newer 360 content, please let us know (see the team chat link above).
• Essentially, it creates a sphere primitive using the 360 items as a Material/Texture, and moves the sphere around the camera at different angles to simulate the experience.
• This uses geometric primitives and was made on version 2.4.  
• Remember that file names and file locations need to match in the code.
• Members can access a planetarium curriculum with another example Digital Sky 2 button set, script, and media packet.
• For Dark Matter Users: Create a sphere asset, parent it to the Camera. Create a Media Asset, load your video there. Set your Inner Emissive to "Media:" then the Media Asset Name, e.g. "Media:MediaAssetName" (note: NOT the file name). You'll have to tweak it for your dome and for each video. For example, you can set diffuse to black, set the Z position to 0.5 to see a bit more of the horizon, (note: you sacrifice some warping at the zenith for that), and you can tilt it and rotate, too, if you want change the view in the dome and/or look at the "ground." 

For videos inside World Viewer (From the WorldViewer Manual, starting on Page 17):

• Panoramic images and videos can be placed on your virtual Earth, allowing people to quickly navigate to and explore immersive content. Drag a 360-degree panoramic image onto a blank cell within the Panos track. Assign this to a “Geolocated Panorama” clip type.
• Once you’ve loaded a pano bubble, you can click the Fly To radio button under Playback Controls to toggle flying in or out. The Home button also moves the camera out of a pano bubble and back to a zoomed out view of Earth. It’s also possible to load 360-degree movies. When you fly to a movie clip, it will begin playing as soon as you click on “Fly to.”
• Flying into geolocated panoramas, you may notice the pano bubble's horizon line is not parallel to the spring line of your dome. Use the tilt settings of the pano in order to align it with your dome's geometry.

For stills inside Uniview:

• In your content “Library” under the “Surface Locations” tab
• You can do this with any of your locations, or you can “Create a new surface location”, e.g. by clicking the “+”. 
• Select the location that you want, and you want to “Show properties.” On some systems, click the little notepad icon with a pencil on it. 
• There you’ll see all the different settings, and you should play around with those numbers, like altitude and azimuth to tweak the final appearance.  However, the main one you want is the “Panorama” settings.  There’s a setting for “Day Image” and “Night Image.” 
• For TRAPPIST, for example, set one or both to one of these images:  labeled and unlabeled  respectively.  Make sure the file path is correct.  For some reason, some versions always omit the “C:” at the beginning of the path. 
• Then you just need to set “Coverage Min” and “Coverage Max” to -90, and 90, respectively. 
• Save it, and then whenever you go to “Sky Mode” for that location, you will be able to show that panorama.  
• Note that for Digital Sky, we actually move the 360 image slightly higher, so you're actually a little lower than the center of the image, and you can see more of the image on the dome.  If you desire to do that, it might be more complicated, but might be worth it, especially for some images.  You may also want to figure out a way to move the image around to view different vantage points.  Also, if your system can't play videos in this mode, you can still take frame captures and import stills from the 360 videos using this method.  If you need help with doing that, simply let us know.
• Simply drag and drop the desired video or image into your display window.
• Select "spherical" from the pop up window.
• Just add ".360" between file name and file type.  For instance: "coolNASAstuff.360.png" or "coolNASAstuff.360.mpg
• The file then can be played either through the Digitalis media browser on the remote control, or from the media tab if you have Universal Console. 
• The operator can then re-orient the image or video on the fly using either the Xbox controller or the Universal Console. 
• It is also possible to write a script which sets the system to a particular lat/lon at a specific time. For an example script, see this member resource .
• Simply open the file using the dedicated 360-pro-player.
• Select Panorama conversion.

For Shira Universe users 1. Simply browse and open the file using the Media Manager . 2. Video or image dimension should be 2:1 rate to dedicate automatically. (for example  8192x4096) 3. If not 2:1 ratio please resize it using ffmpeg for videos.

For Shira Player users 1. Simply move video files to defined Fulldome path, Image files to panorama path. 2. Video or image dimension should be 2:1 rate to dedicate automatically. (for example 8192x4096) 3. If not 2:1 ratio please resize it using ffmpeg for videos.

As always, we welcome feedback, bug reports, reporting broken links, examples/instructions for other planetarium systems, tips, tricks, etc. Just  email us .

You may also like:  

• NASA's 3D model library  and the Solar System 3D model library for 3D printers, maker spaces, design/production studios, etc.
• NASA's AR apps and resources .
• NOAA's Science on a Sphere datasets

This special Resource has been made available to all viewers.  Please note that (free) membership is required for full access to the Museum Alliance site; please visit  Join Our Community  to learn more.

Search tag: free, download, downloadable, Virtual Reality, 360 degree videos, images, show

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• Curiosity at Naukluft Plateau witlh alpha PNG (4.14 MB)
• Curiosity at Naukluft Plateau witlh alpha, labeled PNG (4.25 MB)
• Curiosity at Murray Buttes (2 minutes) MP4 (173.03 MB)
• Curiosity at Murray Butes with alpha PNG (5.31 MB)
• Curiosity at Murray Butes with alpha, labeled PNG (5.36 MB)
• Kepler 16b Surface - Artist Concept 8K unlabeled PNG (17.66 MB)
• TRAPPIST-1d Surface - Artist Concept - MP4 (270.51 MB)
• TRAPPIST-1d Surface - Artist Concept -Labeled PNG (4.4 MB)
• TRAPPIST-1d Surface - Artist Concept - UnLabeled PNG (8.48 MB)
• Rover Ride Along MP4 (187.31 MB)
• JPL Mars Yard featuring Christina Diaz JPG (2.13 MB)
• JPL Spaceflight Operations Facility featuring Tracy Drain JPG (1.41 MB)
• RS-25 Engine test from NASA MSFC (4 minute cut) MP4 (399.24 MB)
• RS-25 Engine test from NASA MSFC (2 minute cut) MP4 (208.62 MB)
• An Immersive Visualization of the Galactic Center MP4 (187.8 MB)
• Launch - Tracking and Data Relay Satellites compressed (5 minutes) MP4 (356.6 MB)
• Launch - Tracking and Data Relay Satellites audio compressed (5 minutes) MP3 (5.14 MB)
• Launch - Osiris Rex (5 minutes) MP4 (414.96 MB)
• Launch - Osiris Rex audio (5 minutes) MP3 (4.35 MB)
• Launch - Joint Polar Launch (3 minutes) MP4 (453.93 MB)
• Launch - Joint Polar Launch audio (3 minutes) MP3 (2.84 MB)
• Mars Insight Testing (3 minutes) 60fps MP4 (255.05 MB)
• SLS Intertank (1 minute) 8K h265 MP4 (75.59 MB)
• GOES-S Launch Atlas V (3 minutes) MP4 (439.6 MB)
• Mars 2020 EDL assembly compressed (3 minutes) MP4 (100.11 MB)
• Mars 2020 EDL assembly audio (3 minutes) MP3 (2.79 MB)
• NASA Juno: Mission to Jupiter 360 audio (4 minutes) MP3 (3.87 MB)
• NASA Juno: Mission to Jupiter 360 (4 minutes) MP4 (339.92 MB)
• Cassini Grand Finale (1 minute) MP4 (91.59 MB)
• Pathfinder 360 (2 minutes) MP4 (177.68 MB)
• Mission Control for Juno Insertion, 7-4-2016 360 (2 minutes) MP4 (132.36 MB)
• Ceres 360 MP4 (117.55 MB)
• Cassini Farewell from JPL ZIP (492.96 MB)
• NASA Marshall Orion Assembly (2 minutes, compressed) MP4 (109.19 MB)
• Michoud Assembly Facility MP4 (571.8 MB)
• Michoud Assembly Facility captions SRT (4 KB)
• Michoud Assembly Facility MP3 (2.69 MB)
• Michoud Assembly Facility 4k MP4 (127.71 MB)
• James Webb in clean room MP4 (78.71 MB)
• James Webb in clean room MP3 (3.27 MB)
• IPAC Exoplanet Excursions MP4 (8k 60fps) (336.02 MB)
• Parker Solar Probe Assembly and Launch MP4 (165.03 MB)
• Parker Solar Probe Assembly and Launch MP3 (3.18 MB)
• NASA's F-18 WSPRR Sonic Boom Dive MP4 (156.6 MB)
• Curiosity at Gediz PNG (22.74 MB)
• Curiosity at Gediz Overlay PNG (22.15 MB)
• Curiosity at Gediz Labeled PNG (22.92 MB)
• Download File (326.75 MB)

3D Astronomy Shows

The Marston Exploration Theater is located on the ASU Tempe campus, in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV  (ISTB4). The theater employs Definiti SkySkan Planetarium technology utilizing 4K projection systems that render Earth and Space Science themes in 3D stereographic vision.

We are excited to announce that our current series of 3D Astronomy Shows will be running January - June 2024 . Join us as we explore the wonders of our solar system and journey through distant galaxies.

To stay updated on the exact program dates we invite you to visit this webpage for the current list of shows starting on January 20, 2024 . 

Directions to the School of Earth and Space Exploration can be found  here .

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming 3D Astronomy Shows!

Purchase tickets below. 

Location and parking

The Marston Exploration Theater is on the first floor of ASU's Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV (ISTB4), headquarters of the School of Earth and Space Exploration. ISTB4 is located on the east side of the ASU Tempe campus near the intersection of Rural and Terrace Road. This seven-story structure is one of ASU’s largest research facility.

The Rural Road parking structure is the closest parking to ISTB4. Parking is available for $4 per hour inside the Rural Road parking structure and collected upon exiting. From the parking structure, walk west and enter ISTB4 through the glass doors on the north side of the building. The School of Earth and Space Exploration does not validate parking.

Download driving directions to ISTB4, view the interactive ASU Tempe Campus map , or use Google Maps to get directions.

For additional information, please call 480-965-6891 or send an e-mail to:   [email protected] . 

Sternenreisen Explore 3D – Was die Planeten bewegt

Empfohlen ab 12 Jahren

EXPLORE 3D – Was die Planeten bewegt

Merkur, Venus, Mars, Jupiter und Saturn bewegen sich als sogenannte „Wandergestirne“ durch das sonst feste Muster der Sterne. Sie prägten in vielen Kulturen den Kalender und wurden als Götter verehrt. Frühe Hochkulturen errichteten grandiose Bauwerke, Tempel und Pyramiden, die nach dem Lauf dieser himmlischen Wanderer ausgerichtet waren.

Wohl selten machen wir uns klar, welch unglaubliche intellektuelle Leistung und wie viel mühsame Detektivarbeit über viele Jahrhunderte notwendig war, um die Bahnen der Planeten zu entschlüsseln und dieses Wissen in der heutigen Zeit für Weltraumflüge zu nutzen.

Wir nehmen Sie mit auf eine 3D-Erkundungstour zu den Gesetzmäßigkeiten des Himmels und machen zudem die aktuellen Bewegungen und Bahnen der Planeten im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes „begreifbar“.

Empfohlen ab 12 Jahren. Eintritt 13,50 Euro, ermäßigt 9,- Euro. Dauer ca. 45 Minuten.

Diese Show können Sie via Audioservice auch auf Englisch hören. Live-Parts sind nicht übersetzt.

Jetzt buchen

Der Traum der Menschheit

Die nächsten termine.

Reservierung von Rollstuhlplätzen  | Für Rollstuhlfahrer haben wir im Sternensaal spezielle Plätze. Bitte nutzen Sie unsere telefonische Buchung: +49 (40) 428 86 52 - 10

Weitere Veranstaltungen

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Kinderveranstaltungen Eddie will ins All – Ein Hamster hebt ab

Planet Erde 100 Jahre Planetarien

• Alle Erlebnisse
• Veranstaltungen A-Z
• Explore 3D – Was die Planeten bewegt

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9 Free Space Virtual Field Trips You Need to Take

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy .

Have you ever wanted to take your kids on a field trip through the far reaches of the universe? Show them what it’s like to stand on the moon?

Then you need to take a space virtual field trip with your kids!

Space Virtual Field Trips

There’s nothing like space virtual field trips for showing the universe to your children. You’ll explore Mars, check out the moon, tour the International Space Station, and more!

You and your kids will love taking these space virtual field trips through space in the comfort of your own home.

1. Interactive Mars Tour

See the images the Curiosity Rover sent back from Mars! The field trip begins by introducing NASA’s Curiosity Rover mission. Then you have the option of moving along Mar’s terrain, learning more about the mission, or traveling to different mission sites.

Head off on an interactive Mars field trip.

2. The Known Universe

Tour the known universe with an amazing video from the American Museum of Natural History. You and your children will start by hovering over the Himalayas before rising above the Earth and into space. This virtual field trip will take you to the farthest reaches of known space before returning you safely home again.

Don’t miss this stunning Tour the known universe .

3.The Nine Planets Solar System Tour

Head off on a virtual interactive tour of the solar system with The Nine Planets Solar System Tour. You’ll be able to view the solar system along with the constellations behind it. And you’ll also study each of the planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. In addition, you’ll explore the composition of the dwarf planets or the sun, and take a closer look at various moons.

The Nine Planets Solar System Tour is a beautiful space virtual field trip.

4. International Space Station Tour

Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams will take you on a tour of the International Space Station. You’ll learn about the different modules such as Harmony, Destiny, and Columbus. You and your kids will see the observation deck as well as the command post.

The International Space Station Tour is a fascinating glimpse of life in outer space.

5. Explore 3D Virtual Sites in Space

This site allows you to download and view 13 different sites in space, sites such as the Moon, Saturn, Pluto, Ceres, and the Milky Way Galaxy. Your kids will be fascinated by these glimpses into other worlds.

Head over and explore these virtual sites in space .

6. U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Tour the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama. See how large the rockets were. Take a look at a mockup of the lunar lander. And glance inside the mobile quarantine facility.

The US Space and Rocket Center Tour is an incredible glimpse into the history of US Space exploration.

7. Boeing Virtual Field Trip

Head over the Boeing for a trip to the historic Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. You and your kids will see inside the Starliner/CST-100, check out the Starliner simulator, meet some Boeing employees, and much more!

Take the Boeing Virtual Field Trip!

8. Tour of the Moon in 4K

Head to the moon for a tour in 4K! You’ll check out the Orientale Basin, the Shackleton Crater, the Apollo 17 Mission landing site, and more. Plus there are videos about how the moon evolved and seeing the Earthrise on the moon.

Tour of the Moon in 4K is an unforgettable space virtual field trip!

9. Virtual Planetarium: Sun, Moon, Stars

In the virtual planetarium show, “Sun, Moon, and Stars”, you’ll check out the sun’s daily path, classify start, note common constellations, and more.

Watch the Virtual Planetarium: Sun, Moon, Stars today.

Your and your children will love these space virtual field trips that explore the universe.

You’ll see the sun, the moon, and the stars. Meet people designing our future in space. And learn what life is like on the International Space Station.

>> Check out more virtual field trips you can take from home!

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The Nine Planets

Solar System Tour

Solar System Scope is an incredibly accurate solar system tour, allowing you to explore the solar system, the night sky and outer space in real-time.

All of the objects on the tour are accurately positioned based on where they are right this very second, and the tour contains interesting facts and information about the many objects in space.

Every now and then, don’t you wish you could just pack your bags and jet off on an exciting, awe-inspiring journey across our breathtaking solar system? Ever wondered what it’d be like to skim past the gas giants or marvel at the icy rings of Saturn up close? Well, while Elon Musk is still working on making that a reality, I’ll be your virtual guide on a one-of-a-kind solar system tour – an enlightening adventure, without the risk of being lost in space!

Our journey starts right here, on our very own life-logged planet, Earth. As we embark on this space voyage, we’ll traverse through the neighboring rocky planets, glide past the incredible asteroid belt, and sweep across the majestic giants, their icy rings and numerous satellites. Towards the end, we’ll be gracefully riding the gravitational waves, leaving the outer edges of our solar system, where you’ll get a rare glimpse of the enigmatic region populated by icy objects known as the Kuiper Belt.

But before we start our engines and head for the inky vastness of space, it’s important to remember that although space explorations have given us a fair idea about these celestial bodies, there’s still an ocean of mysteries waiting to be unfolded. The real beauty of our cosmic neighborhood lies in its sheer vastness, diversity and the endless scope of discovery that it harbors. From the scorching heat of Mercury to the frigid reaches Pluto and beyond, brace yourself for an  out-of-this-world experience !

The Exciting Experience of a Solar System Tour

Imagine the prospect of a real-life  solar system tour . It’s akin to a child’s joy on their first trip to a theme park. A hands-on space exploration that goes beyond the textbooks, casting a mesmerizing spell on minds open to the wonders of the universe.

Propelling past Earth’s atmosphere, you’d first mark a date with our closest celestial neighbor—the Moon. The Apollo astronauts traversed its dusty plains more than five decades ago. Yet for us, it would still be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Next on the itinerary is our scorched twin, Venus. Here’s a fun fact,  Venus  is the only planet in our solar system that spins opposite to Earth.

Then we arrive at the pièce de résistance: our bloodline, the Sun. During the visit, you could learn more about its billion-year lifespan and its constant solar storms. The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it’s been the subject of numerous  space missions , most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life.

Here’s a quick tabular overview:

From the asteroid belt to Jupiter’s turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story. With the tour continuing to the outer reaches of the universe, you’d experience the icy solitude of the outer planets like Neptune and Uranus.

However, we shouldn’t forget about an often overlooked, yet significant part of our solar system. Those are the  comets  and asteroids, remnants from the formation of our system almost 4.6 billion years ago.

Being part of a solar system tour , you wouldn’t just be observing the cosmos. Instead, you’d immerse yourself in a cosmic ocean, each wave presenting a new revelation about the universe. It’s not merely an experience; it’s the chance to physically connect with the vast expanse of space that usually only feels a speck away in the night sky. This would indeed be a ticket to the greatest show in the cosmos.

Traveling through the Solar System: What to Expect

Imagine blasting off into the cosmos on a spaceship designed for a thrilling expedition! As we set off on our  solar system tour , the things we’ll perceive are extraordinarily vast and stunningly diverse. This voyage will give us a newfound respect for the majesty of the cosmic neighborhood we inhabit.

Our first stop will be  Mercury , the closest planet to the sun. It’s a small, bare, and intensely heated planet. We shouldn’t forget the sunscreen as daytime temperatures can soar up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next, we’ll swing by  Venus  – the hot, hurricane-ridden planet awaits us with an unbelievably corrosive atmosphere. It’s interesting to note that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, including Earth.

Continuing our journey, we’ll visit  Mars . Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Mount Everest. And don’t forget about the giant canyon, Valles Marineris, which would stretch from New York to Los Angeles if it was on Earth!

Yet, our extraordinary adventure won’t be all about planets. We’ll have a chance to marvel at the  Asteroid Belt , a ring composed of millions of rocky bodies. This celestial obstacle course lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Of course, we’ll also encounter the majestic giants of our solar system. The gas giants,  Saturn  and  Jupiter , as well as the icy giants,  Uranus  and  Neptune , will present captivating sights. We’ll see Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth, and Saturn’s intricate ring system. Uranus and Neptune, on the other hand, will dazzle us with their stunning cool-blue hues.

Admittedly, going further to behold the beauty of  Pluto , once a planet, now a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, caps off this unique expedition. The journey end will leave us with an understanding of the infinite yet harmonious chaos that forms our solar system.

So buckle up, folks. The adventure through our heavenly bodies is par for the cosmic course. Our solar system, with its varied and breathtaking celestial bodies, offers a journey like no other. It’s going to be a wild ride! Just remember, despite the vastness of space, we’re never too far away from our home planet, Earth.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Intergalactic Journey

Wraping up, we’ve journeyed past planets and stars, across cosmic fields, and brushed alongside cosmic neighbors throughout our solar system tour.  Isn’t it just incredible that we live in such an expansive universe that holds so many unseen wonders?

Throughout our intergalactic expedition, we’ll forever remember the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Let’s just take a quick review again:

• Mercury,  with its sweltering days and frigid nights,
• Venus,  stunningly bright yet shrouded in clouds,
• Mars,  our red neighbor that pique our curiosity about extraterrestrial life,
• Jupiter’s  giant gas storms,
• Saturn’s  enchanting rings,
• Uranus  and  Neptune’s  icy allure,
• And let’s not forget about our little cosmic sibling, the dwarf planet  Pluto .

Something important stood out during our journey, invoking a sense of interconnectivity. Each exists in symbiosis, drawing and relying upon the sun’s energy. Just like how everything on Earth is connected, so are we connected to our cosmic counterparts.

So, what’s the takeaway? Should we plan to pack our bags and ship off to Mars? I’ll leave that up to you. What I will stress, though, is the importance of space exploration. It’s not just a testament to human curiosity, it’s a driver of scientific breakthroughs and a reminder of the vast unexplored universe that lies ahead of us.

It might seem frightening, or perhaps intriguing. Yet isn’t that the essence of exploration? Stepping into the unknown, learning new things, using that newfound knowledge to improve and innovate. And in doing so, perhaps we’ll find more about ourselves along the way.

To sum it up, our universe offers infinite mysteries and wonders for us to discover. As we move forward, let’s keep looking up and fueling our curiosity. Remember, no question is a bad question and our solar system tour just has begun. As we continue to explore the stars, who knows what we’ll uncover? The only thing for sure is that the stars await, ready to share their secrets with us.

Due to errors in the way the solar system model works embedded on this page, we now link directly to Solar System Scope.

Welcome to ViewSpace

Hero interactive.

Explore the Universe with Interactives and Videos

About ViewSpace

What is viewspace.

ViewSpace is a free, web-based collection of digital interactives and videos highlighting the latest developments in astronomy and Earth science.

ViewSpace gives you the opportunity to explore our planet, solar system, galaxy, and universe. Provided free with the support of NASA, ViewSpace is developed by a team of scientists, educators, and communication specialists who collaborate to ensure that content is accurate, up-to-date, engaging, relevant, and accessible to a wide audience.

Interactives

ViewSpace interactives allow you to explore objects and materials from different perspectives, discovering how we can combine information to better understand the universe.

Different forms of light: Explore visible and invisible wavelengths of light that help us understand features like the dusty brim of the Sombrero Galaxy roughly 30 million light-years away.

Hidden objects: Unveil invisible light to reveal hidden objects like the stars forming inside Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust 7,500 light-years from Earth.

ViewSpace videos tell the stories of the planets, stars, galaxies, and universe, giving viewers the opportunity to experience space and Earth as seen with satellites and telescopes.

Astronomy: Explore the sky with stories told through spectacular imagery from space telescopes.

Earth science: Gain new perspectives on our home planet based on data gathered by Earth-orbiting satellites.

ViewSpace is produced by the Office of Public Outreach at the Space Telescope Science Institute , in partnership with the NASA's Universe of Learning project and NASA's Earth Observing System, Hubble Space Telescope Project, and James Webb Space Telescope Project.

ViewSpace has been exhibited in museums, planetariums, and science centers across the country since 2000.

What Will You Explore?

The Latest Discoveries in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Recent Natural Events and Satellite Views of Earth

In-depth Stories of How Science and the Universe Work

Stunning Imagery and Accessible Explanations

Sample Images from ViewSpace

What objects and materials make up the universe, and how do we study the invisible as well as the visible?

Data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory are used to create a map of dark matter (blue) in galaxy cluster MACS J0717.5+3745.

What are galaxies; how do they vary; and how do they form, interact, and change over time?

The Penguin and the Egg (Arp 142) is a pair of galaxies that are being distorted by their mutual gravitational attraction.

How do the Sun, planets, moons, comets, and asteroids interact as a system?

Saturn’s moon Titan casts a shadow as it passes between the planet and the Sun.

How do telescopes help us better understand the objects and materials that light up the sky?

With telescopes, we can see details of the Milky Way, including glowing clouds of dust and gas like the Lobster Nebula.

How fast is the universe expanding and what does this tell us about its past and future?

Over time, space expands, stretching the wavelenghts of light and causing the distant galaxies seen in the Ultra Deep Field image from the Hubble Space Telescope to look redder than the closer galaxies.

How do we detect and study planets orbiting other stars?

Changes in the brightness of starlight, measured by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, indicates the presence of a planet orbiting the star.

What happens to stars at the end of their lives, and how do stellar explosions affect the space around them?

Visible, infrared, and X-ray light from supernova remnant Cassiopeia A reveal remains of an exploded star.

How can we use interactions between light and matter to probe the deep universe?

The enormous mass of galaxy cluster Abell 370 bends the space around it, magnifying and distorting the light from more distant galaxies into arc-like streaks.

How are astronomers combining data from space and ground-based telescopes, particle detectors, and gravitational wave detectors to understand cosmic objects, processes, and events?

An artist’s illustration depicts the detection of neutrino particles and gamma rays emitted by a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy.

How and where do stars form, and how do they shape their surroundings?

Pillars of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula are sculpted and illuminated by stellar winds and high-energy radiation of bright stars.

How can we use satellites to map, study, and monitor Earth’s land surface, oceans, and atmosphere?

An image captured by the Landsat 8 satellite in May 2018 shows active lava flows from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

What evidence supports our theories of how the universe formed and how it has evolved over time?

A map of the sky from the Planck Space Telescope highlights variations in the cosmic microwave background radiation—energy left over from the big bang some 13.8 billion years ago.

What tools and methods do scientists use to study Earth and space?

NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite (SMAP) helps scientists monitor droughts, predict floods, and improve farm productivity.

Is Earth unique? Are we alone?

Observations from space telescopes have revealed thousands of exoplanets of different of sizes, compositions, temperatures, and atmospheres, including seven rocky Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system, 40 light-years from Earth (artist’s illustration).

Where Is ViewSpace?

ViewSpace videos are on exhibit at museums, science centers, and planetariums across the country.

ViewSpace interactives are available online.

Use the map to find a ViewSpace video location near you.

Location Spotlight

Worcester, Massachusetts

Westcave Preserve

Round Mountain, Texas

Lowell Observatory

Flagstaff, Arizona

Maryland Science Center

Baltimore, Maryland

Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey

Clark Planetarium

Salt Lake City, Utah

Becoming a ViewSpace Venue

ViewSpace provides informal learning sites with engaging, accurate, relevant, and up-to-date astronomy and Earth science content. Access to ViewSpace is free, requiring only registration, a computer or Smart TV, and persistent internet access. ViewSpace content is self-updating and videos can be set to play automatically, requiring minimal staff effort to maintain.

Join hundreds of others in featuring ViewSpace as part of your exhibits.

Who Produces and Supports ViewSpace?

ViewSpace is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and is provided free of charge through financial support and subject matter expertise from the NASA’s Universe of Learning project, NASA’s Earth Observing System Project Science Office, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Project, and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Project.

Funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astrophysics STEM learning and literacy project developed through a partnership between the Space Telescope Science Institute, Caltech/IPAC, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Sonoma State University.

NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of satellites designed to observe Earth’s land, atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere. As part of the Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the EOS Project Science Office (EOSPSO) is committed to sharing information with both researchers and the general public.

The Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope are two of NASA’s flagship missions designed to explore and advance our understanding of the universe. The missions’ communications programs are dedicated to sharing scientific advances and making the world’s astronomical information accessible to all.

Universe simulator

SpaceEngine is a realistic virtual Universe you can explore on your computer. You can travel from star to star, from galaxy to galaxy, landing on any planet, moon, or asteroid with the ability to explore its alien landscape. You can alter the speed of time and observe any celestial phenomena you please. All transitions are completely seamless, and this virtual universe has a size of billions of light-years across and contains trillions upon trillions of planetary systems. The procedural generation is based on real scientific knowledge, so SpaceEngine depicts the universe the way it is thought to be by modern science. Real celestial objects are also present if you want to visit them, including the planets and moons of our Solar system, thousands of nearby stars with newly discovered exoplanets, and thousands of galaxies that are currently known.

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All types of celestial objects

represented

Galaxies, nebulae, stars and star clusters, planets and moons, comets and asteroids

Thousands of known

celestial objects

Known galaxies, stars, planets, asteroids, nebulae are represented using catalogs: HIPPARCOS, NGC/IC, Messier, MPC, NASA Exoplanet Archive and many others

procedural generation

for uncharted regions

Uncharted regions of space feature procedurally generated objects: galaxies, stars, star clusters, nebulae and planetary systems

Incredibly huge

and realistic Universe

Trillions of galaxies with billions of star systems in each, everything is realistically scaled

free to move

around the universe

Seamless transition from the surface of a planet to the most distant galaxies, and free game-like movement with the WASD keys

Easy navigation

many useful tools

Click on any visible object with the mouse and hit the 'G' key to fly directly to it. Search for objects by name, search by parameters within a certain radius, browse an interactive map of the surrounding space and view a map of the current planetary system

Save locations

and name objects

Save a favorite point in space and time and share it with friend. Give a name to any discovered planet, star or galaxy, and write a description for it.

Observe the Universe

Accelerate, decelerate, or reverse the flow of time to see the orbital motion of planets and moons, and watch sunsets and eclipses

Tools to learn

how the Universe works

Read detailed physical and astronomical data of any celestial body using the built-in Wiki system. Look at the orbital path lines of planets and moons, and compare their size side-by-side

3D landscapes on planets

volumetric galaxies and nebulae

Solar System bodies have real terrain models obtained by space probes; realistic hi-detail terrain on procedural planets

Photorealistic

Photorealistic lighting and atmospheric model

Space ships

with realistic orbital mechanics

Pilot star ships with realistic orbital mechanics, Alcubierre warp drives, and aerodynamics in planetary atmospheres

Multilanguage

Localization in 20 languages, with a simple system for creating new translations

Huge modding

Import space ship models, planetary surface textures and terrain, astronomical catalogs, and more

And much more

Movement made possible with free, spacecraft or aircraft mode

``Select and fly`` autopilot to automatically go directly to the object

Automatic binding of the observer to moving objects

Automatic selection of optimum flight speed

Built-in wiki system with descriptions and ability to extend

Ability to import user addons: models, textures, catalogs

3D models of galaxies and nebulae with interstellar dust clouds

Accurate planetary atmosphere models

Controllable space ships

Original music with context-dependent track switching

Localization in many languages, with the ability to add new ones

• CPU: Intel Core i3-3220T, AMD FX-4100
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 460; 3+ GB dedicated video memory (VRAM)
• OS: Windows 10

Recommended

• CPU: Intel Core i5-4430, AMD FX-8350
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480; 5+ GB dedicated video memory (VRAM)
• OS: Windows 10/11

If you like SpaceEngine, buy the latest version on Steam , and receive free updates as we make improvements and add new features!

At the moment, we are no longer accepting donations via PayPal. If you want to support SpaceEngine beyond purchasing it for yourself, consider buying a copy for a friend or simply tell your friends and family about SpaceEngine and why you love it. No matter what you do, we deeply appreciate your support!

Best VR space experiences

The best VR space experiences puts space travel within reach of everyone - with the right hardware.

Travel the cosmos and explore the ISS in the best VR space experiences.

VR gaming is great but there are also a wealth of smaller VR “experiences” that let you explore places and situations that would otherwise be beyond your reach. Space has its own subset of experiences which range from letting you board the International Space Station to giving you the power to bend planets to your will. 

Yes, space exploration is still the domain of a select few, based on their skill sets, celebrity status or bank balances.  Most of us won’t get to escape Earth’s gravitational pull, let alone live on the moon. But, thanks to the best VR headsets , all you need to do to take to the stars (or demolish them) is to don a headset and enter virtual reality. 

It’s not absolutely the same, your feet will remain firmly planted on Earth, but VR experiences can be the next best thing to actually going to space and with VR more affordable than it’s ever been, there’s no better time to blast off. So, to give you a head start, we’ve rounded up six of the best VR space experiences.

1. Space Explorers: The ISS Experience 

• Headsets : Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2 
• Price: $2.99 for each of 4 episodes (via Oculus Store) 

One the best VR space experiences, Space Explorers: The ISS Experience was filmed aboard the International Space Station, over the course of two years. Exclusive to the Oculus Quest it’s an absolutely fascinating look at life aboard the station and, while only two of the four half-an-hour episodes have been released, it offers some insights you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. 

It is largely non-interactive; you’re limited to jumping back and forth through each mini documentary’s timeline. But Space Explorers: The ISS Experience is well worth your time, not just because of how astonishing it feels to “be” on the ISS (even if you can’t freely explore), but also because it happily delves into the mundane.

Yes, there are interviews and so forth, and the final episode is set to contain a spacewalk. But the quieter moments are just as vital; a crew member’s sorrow over her comrades’ imminent departure is framed by an extended scene of them all dining together. And, thanks to the VR close-ups, it feels like you’re right there with them; I had the urge to grab a can of tuna as it drifted by. 

Two years of footage has, naturally, been edited down but it still has an air of honesty and if you’ve the slightest interest in the ISS it’s a must-see. 

• Get Space Explorers via the Oculus store for free .

2. Mission: ISS  

• Headsets : Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2
• Price: Free (via Oculus Store) 

Ever wanted to roam around the International Space Station? Mission: ISS lets you do just that and the freedom it bestows upon you is really something. You can “cheat” and navigate the ISS using the controller’s joystick, but pushing yourself along using the various wall-mounted bars makes for a more authentic, if slightly chaotic outing. 

Mission: ISS’s attention to detail is real a joy; you can’t go around just flipping switches, but chances are you’ll spend ages poring over buttons, reading labels and batting ketchup bottles about. You get to play with the ISS’s docking arm, but if you’d prefer a truly harrowing experience, spacewalking is where it’s at. 

The stars are quite clearly textures but once you’re out there it still feels disquietingly real. In your head the only thing keeping you in the vicinity of the ISS is a few metal hand-grips and your SAFER pack . And this is all from a free game, with not an in-app purchase in sight; short of drifting off into the void, you really can’t go wrong. 

• Download Mission: ISS for Oculus Quest 2 or Oculus Rift S .

3. Spheres 

• Headset: Oculus Rift & Oculus Quest
• Price: $9.99 (via Oculus Store) 

Spheres is not so much a scientifically-accurate exploration of space as it is a semi-interactive art piece. It’s split into three ten minute chunks, narrated by Millie Bobby Brown, Jessica Chastain and Patti Smith respectively. Their presence, compared to regular voice actors, doesn’t elevate Spheres but, for the most part, the narration (and writing) comes across as sincere, only once edging into near-parody. 

The voice-overs serve to set the scene, but it’s the stunning visuals and subdued but haunting soundtrack that make Spheres such a memorable meditation on the cosmos. All three chapters, Chorus of the Cosmos, Songs of Spacetime and Pale Blue Dot are excellent but Songs of Spacetime is worth the asking price alone.  

Writer Eliza McNitt’s interpretation of a black hole is breathtaking enough but Spheres briefly puts you in control of this galactic sinkhole, letting you reach out to slowly devour a doomed sun. Then, just when you’ve seen the most Spheres has to offer, it takes things to a whole other level, but it wouldn’t be fair to spoil the surprise. 

• Buy Spheres for $9.99 on Oculus Quest 2 or Oculus Rift S .

4. Discovering Space 2 

• Headset: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (Oculus Quest via air link or cable) 
• Price: $9.99 (via Oculus Store), $9.99 (via Steam Store) 

The bad news is Discovering Space 2 , which sees you soaring around the Solar System in a sci-fi ship, sometimes resembles a theme park ride rather than a real space voyage. The good news is it feels like the kind of cutting edge computer-assisted ride you’d have to wait two years to get tickets for. 

You can follow one of several guided tours, or just explore the Solar System at will. The latter is where Discovering Space 2 comes into its own because it manages to convey the vastness of the distance between planets. Yes, you can throttle up and travel at currently unattainable speeds if you want to reach Mars in minutes. But just pointing yourself at a planet and being informed it’ll take 79 days to reach is hugely sobering, as you gaze at the blackness through your cockpit.  

The icing on the cake is you can fly down to each planet (there’s an optional autopilot) and while their surface textures are fairly low resolution, it’s a welcome addition. Once you get used to the fact that a few planets, the Earth in particular, don’t quite sell their size, Discovering Space 2 is a worthy exploration.

• Buy Discovering Space 2 on via Oculus store or Steam .

5. SpaceEngine 

• Headset (not required): Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (Oculus Quest via air link or cable), Windows Mixed Reality, can run without headset. 
• Price: $24.99 (Early Access, via Steam Store) 

SpaceEngine, while still in Early Access, is a vast interactive planetarium where the sky definitely isn’t the limit. It’s an impressive experience, more so when you strap on a VR headset and find yourself surrounded by the stars. You can explore Earth’s planetary neighbours or select a distant system and, in a matter of seconds, be standing (or floating) in unfamiliar space. Half of the fun of playing SpaceEngine is clicking away at stars, not knowing what you’re going to discover when it takes you there.

It does incorporate actual astronomical data, so you can soar off to Trappist-1 or any number of known systems. Some systems and planets are procedurally generated and are labelled as such; the more you explore the uncharted regions of space, the more SpaceEngine has to give you its best guess or make something up entirely. 

However, as immersive as SpaceEngine is, the VR interface is pretty clunky. For example, if you want to enter the name of a system you need to lift your visor and use the keyboard. As a work in progress, it’s well worth diving into but overhauling the VR controls should be next on the developers’ to-do list. 

• Buy SpaceEngine for $24.99 via Steam.

6. Universe Sandbox 

• Headsets (not required): Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (Oculus Quest via air link or cable), Windows Mixed Reality
• Price: $29.99 (via Steam Store) 

Universe Sandbox is less a planetarium and more an opportunity for you to perform your own experiments on an unsuspecting system.  These experiments range from the low key (if potentially prophetic) - raising Earth’s temperature a few degrees - to the malevolent – dropping the blue supergiant Rigel into the Solar System and watching everything fall apart. 

However, donning a compatible VR headset takes Universe Sandbox’s stellar shenanigans to a sublime new level. Zoom into Earth and it’ll float so close you’ll swear you could grab it. Launch the Moon towards our precious planet and watch awe-struck as the annihilation unfolds before your eyes. Planetary events that are striking when viewed on a monitor become absolutely spectacular when witnessed in VR and, unlike SpaceEngine, the VR controls are entirely intuitive. 

Is Universe Sandbox accurate?   Creators Giant Army state they “strive to keep the results as realistic as possible”, though they admit it doesn’t take account of relativity . So we wouldn’t recommend you use it to support your dissertation, but if you’ve ever contemplated our solar system and thought “What if?”, Universe Sandbox will give you hours of planet-meddling joy.

• Buy Universe Sandbox for $29.99 via Steam.

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Chris is a freelance journalist who, aside from covering games and gaming-related tech, has a taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic. As well as Space.com, you can find his work at The Escapist, GameSpew (where he’s the morning news writer) and more. You can follow him on Twitter @MarmaladeBus .

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