Presentation Information
[O6-02]Visualizing the Universe in Four Dimensions: Recent Developments in the 4D2U Project
*Hinako Fukushi1, Eiichiro Kokubo1, Takaaki Takeda1, Hirotaka Nakayama1, Satoki Hasegawa1, Tsunehiko Kato2 (1. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Japan), 2. Rikkyo University (Japan))
Keywords:
scientific visualization,astronomy education,3D planetarium
The Four-Dimensional Digital Universe (4D2U) Project at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) aims to visualize astronomical data obtained from telescope observations and supercomputer simulations in four dimensions—three spatial dimensions and one temporal dimension. By providing scientifically accurate and visually compelling visualizations, the project seeks to intuitively communicate complex astronomical phenomena to both researchers and the general public. This project is part of the Center for Computational Astrophysics, which operates the NAOJ’s supercomputers dedicated to astrophysical simulations. Experts in astronomy and scientific visualization are engaged in producing the project’s content.This project produces two main types of content: (1) 3D visualization videos of astronomical data that allow viewers to experience phenomena such as the evolution of the large-scale structure of the universe and the formation of planets, and (2) the Four-Dimensional Digital Universe Viewer “Mitaka”, an software application that enables users to interactively explore astronomical data and experience the hierarchical structure of the universe. These products are freely available on the 4D2U website and are widely used in planetariums, educational settings, museum exhibitions, television programs, and entertainment contexts. In addition, the 4D2U Dome Theater on the NAOJ Mitaka campus offers regular free screenings where visitors can experience these visualizations in stereoscopic 3D.More recently, we have been developing a web application that allows users to experience the features of Mitaka. We plan to release it in the near future as a tool that enables users to explore the hierarchical structure of the universe, regardless of their operating system or device.In this talk, I will provide an overview of the 4D2U Project and highlight its recent activities and developments.