Immersive VR Tour of the Universe Available in Washington, DC
Having a computer strapped to my face for 40 minutes was one reason to feel a little sweaty. But the tour of the Universe I had just received in virtual reality—including visits to the near vicinity of the Sun, the giant black hole at the center of our galaxy, and a hellscape of an exoplanet 41 light-years distant—provided another excuse for sensing some heat.
Starstruck: An Immersive Experience
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a 40-minute astronomy walk-through that debuted in Washington, DC, in May. Tickets range from $29 to $35 for solo adults and $18 for groups of four or more (all discounted by 15 percent). It will also open in Denver, Orlando, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, later this year.
After onboarding and setting preferences, I sat on a bench next to the exhibit space and watched an attendee erupt with, ‘Oh my God!’
The virtual experience began with me standing under a glittering night sky at the Multiple Mirror Telescope. The stars were big and bright, but blurred when I moved my head. The exhibit will eventually transition to a newer HTC headset, the Vive Focus Vision.
