Category Archives: 3d modelling

A Galaxy in a Crystal

Data in a Cube

Galaxy by Bathsheba Grossman

I’m kind of a sucker for astronomy-inspired art. My interest probably stems back to my undergraduate days when I took an astronomy class and the prof encouraged us to be creative and use astronomy in unique ways. So, for an extra credit project  (for those of us who had an A in the class already) we could do an “artwork” astro project. I don’t remember what I did, but I do recall seeing a few astronomy quilts and paintings.

A couple of years ago a friend sent me to a link about a woman who has created (using lasers and glass) a 3D sculpture of the Milky Way Galaxy. Her name is Bathsheba Grossman and she creates other cosmic work as well.  Her galaxy is based on data obtained from the Goddard Space Flight Center (most likely an amalgamation of several galaxy survey data sets). it’s awfully pretty and I think would look pretty dramatic in a darkened room.

As you might imagine, there have been advances in mapping our galaxy as detectors and telescopes improve. One of the best and newest data sets of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy was created by the folks at Japan’s National Astronomy Observatory. It’s called the 4D2U project.  I worked on a video about 4D2U with the folks at Subaru Observatory a few years ago and had a chance to play with a beta verson of their navigator (see the link above to visit their site).

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Galaxy based on 4D2U data

Now, an artist in Japan has created a new crystallized view of the galaxy available, based on 4D2U data. It, too, was created with crystal and a laser, and shows our galaxy in great detail.

Both galaxy sculptures are striking and thought-provoking. They illuminate for us just how our galaxy looks, and what we’ve learned about it with our Big Telescopes and far-seeing instruments.  I expect in a few more years, we’ll have even more detailed data sets. I wonder what the crystal galaxies will look like then??

Modelling the Universe

It’s Fascinating

artwork by Ryan Bliss; for more, go to DigitalBlasphemy.comI have a new appreciation for the folks who do 3D modeling of things.  That’s because I’m working on creating my very first 3D model of plasma, using a program called Art of Illusion. I just downloaded it a few days ago, and although I’ve dabbled in a few 3D things before, this is the first time I’ve actually sat down and gone through the tutorials and learned a bit more about this kind of work.

The project I’m doing this for is a series of vodcasts for Haystack Observatory, and I couldn’t find a decent animation on the IntarWebs that looked like what I wanted (and that would fit the script and the budget). So, I decided to create one for myself.

This brings me back to one of my favorite pastimes: looking at other people’s artwork. One of the coolest sites for 3D and other imagery is Digital Blasphemy, which I’ve written about before. Ryan Bliss creates gorgeous work, and for the insanely reasonable price of $15.00 a year, you can download his work for your personal desktop use all you want.  There are also links from his site to other artists who create artwork, and I always enjoy browsing the latest. That’s his Endless Blue beach scene there are the left.  The International Association of Astronomical Artists is another web page showcasing many more space artists, some of whom are old friends and acquaintances. I’ve know some of these folks since they were painting in oils; most have moved to computerized imagery to bring other realms to live.  I’m impressed no matter how they do it!