A 3D Atlas Of The Universe
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Lesson Article
Introduction to the Digital Universe
It is a great honor to share with you the digital universe, a creation designed to help humanity understand our place in the cosmos. This digital universe was created to challenge the metaphor of the flat horizon, which has long symbolized infinite resources and unlimited capacity for waste disposal. It wasn’t until we ventured beyond Earth’s atmosphere and saw the horizon bend back on itself that we truly understood our planet as a finite entity.
The Digital Universe Atlas
The Digital Universe Atlas, a project twelve years in the making, was built at the American Museum of Natural History. This project was designed to chart the universe across all scales. It presents a view of the Earth and its satellites in proper registration against the universe. This work was supported by NASA as part of the rebuilding of the Hayden Planetarium, with the intention of sharing this knowledge with the world. The Digital Universe forms the basis of our space show productions, which are primarily held in the dome.
Collaborative Efforts and Interactive Use
The project has been a collaborative effort, with internships hosted with Linköping University in Sweden. Twelve students have contributed to this project for their graduate work, resulting in a software called UniView and a company called Sciss in Sweden. This software allows for interactive use, enabling live capture of flight paths and movies. The footage you see here was captured live from a laptop in a café in Manhattan. This was part of a collaborative project with the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art for an exhibit on comparative cosmology.
Exploring the Universe
As we move out from our planet, we continuously journey into the realm of galaxies. The light from these distant galaxies has taken so long to reach us that we are essentially backing up into the past. Eventually, we see a containment around us, the afterglow of the Big Bang. This is the WMAP microwave background. If we were outside this, it would almost be meaningless as it is before time. This is our containment of the visible universe. We know the universe is bigger than what we can see.
Mapping the Universe
Coming back quickly, we see the radio sphere that we jumped out of in the beginning. These are the latest positions of exoplanets that we’ve mapped. Our Sun, obviously with our own solar system, is also included. We have to jump in between several orders of magnitude to get down to where we see the solar system. These are the paths of Voyager 1, Voyager 2, Pioneer 11, and Pioneer 10, the first four spacecraft to have left the solar system.
Updating the Map
This map can be updated, and we can add in new data. For example, we see the complex trajectory of the Cassini mission, color-coded for different mission phases. The software allows us to come close and look at parts of this. The software can also be networked between domes. We have a growing user base of this. When we network domes and classrooms, we’re actually sharing tours of the universe with the first sub-Saharan planetarium in Ghana, new libraries in the ghettos in Columbia, and a high school in Cambodia. The Cambodians have actually controlled the Hayden Planetarium from their high school.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this beautiful world that we live on is part of a much larger universe. We carry the universe within us. Being able to see our context in this larger sense at all scales helps us understand where we are and who we are in the universe.
Discussion Questions
- How has the digital universe project challenged our understanding of Earth as a finite entity?
- What is the purpose of the Digital Universe Atlas and how was it created?
- Can you explain the collaborative efforts and interactive use of the digital universe project?
- What does it mean for us to journey into the realm of galaxies and how does it relate to the past?
- How has the mapping of the universe been accomplished and what does it include?
- How can the digital universe map be updated and what benefits does this bring?
- How has the digital universe project been used to connect different parts of the world?
- What does understanding our place in the universe at all scales help us to comprehend?
Lesson Vocabulary
digital – relating to or using signals or information that is represented by discrete values and is manipulated by computers. – I prefer reading books in digital format rather than physical copies.
universe – all existing matter, space, and energy considered as a whole; the cosmos. – Scientists are constantly exploring the vastness of the universe.
creation – the action or process of bringing something into existence. – The artist’s painting was a beautiful creation.
humanity – the human race; human beings collectively. – It is essential to show compassion and kindness towards all of humanity.
cosmos – the universe seen as a well-ordered whole. – Stargazing at night makes me feel connected to the cosmos.
horizon – the line at which the earth’s surface and the sky appear to meet. – The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues.
resources – a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. – The company invested in new resources to improve productivity.
waste disposal – the process or activity of getting rid of unwanted or unneeded material, substances, or by-products. – Proper waste disposal is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
Earth’s atmosphere – the envelope of gases surrounding the planet, retained by its gravitational attraction. – The greenhouse effect is caused by certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.
finite – having limits or bounds. – Time is a finite resource that should be cherished and used wisely.
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- Categories: Earth & Space Science, TED Ed, Video Lessons
- Keywords: cosmos, creation, digital, Earth's atmosphere, finite, horizon, humanity, resources, universe, waste disposal
