VIRUP: Exploring the visualisation of the real universe in VR

Based on terabytes of scientific data, a research group at EPFL has developed software called VIRUP that visualises the universe for VR in real time.

Into the galaxy via VR? Anyone who wants to can now use VR goggles - but also a desktop - to explore an image of the universe as we know it, which is based on immense amounts of real data collected in various scientific projects. The software is called VIRUP (The Virtual Reality Universe Project) and was developed by a research group in Switzerland at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). It renders the respective view of the universe in real time, from the Earth to our solar system and up to entire groups of galaxies. The technology is based on several terabytes of data from ESA's Gaia mission, among others. VIRUP is available for download as an open source application and in a beta version for Windows and Linux.

Real data as the basis for visualisation

According to the team, VIRUP can now visualise data from more than eight databases to publish the software.

VR glasses are required for the full immersive experience in 3D and with an all-round view, but the software has been developed to support other displays, including a dome such as those found in planetariums. However, you can at least get an impression of it on a normal PC, which requires not only the installation file but also a database of more than 11 gigabytes. Detailed installation instructions has been put online by the team.

With this project, the team wants to show what a lasting impact the presentation of data has on our understanding of it. Astrophysicist Jean-Paul Kneib says that it allows you to navigate through the most detailed map of the cosmos without leaving the comfort of your own four walls: "This is the opportunity to travel through space and time to discover the universe."

Source: Heise