This Exhibit Turns Smithsonian Telescope Data Into a Virtual Space Walk

"Opening in Penn Quarter on June 12, Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience uses virtual reality headsets to explore distant exoplanets, black holes, and the Hubble Space Telescope itself. The exhibit is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and event group Fever, grounded in real astronomical data and research from SAO."

"The exhibit is the culmination of a two-year partnership between Fever and Smithsonian scientists. A group of around 50 creatives-animators, game developers, 3D modelers, composers, and traditional writers-worked with Smithsonian astrophysicists and museum producers to map out the cosmic phenomena in each scene before animation."

""We've built everything by hand," says Mizroch. "We did use some AI tools just in cleanup processes and things like creating storyboards, but we built all of this by scratch from hand.""

"Smithsonian Starstruck will take place inside Fever's roughly 5,000-square-foot venue in Penn Quarter (926 F St., NW). Groups of five to six visitors will enter the 40-minute VR experience every three minutes. The exhibit will remain in DC for the next nine to 12 months before potentially traveling to cities around the world."

Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience opens in Penn Quarter on June 12 and uses virtual reality headsets for a 40-minute journey through space. The experience covers distant exoplanets, black holes, and views of the Hubble Space Telescope. The project is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Fever, grounded in real astronomical data and research. A two-year partnership involved about 50 creatives working with Smithsonian astrophysicists and museum producers to map cosmic phenomena before animation. The content was built by hand, with AI used mainly for cleanup and storyboards. The VR venue fits groups of five to six visitors and runs every three minutes, staying in DC for nine to 12 months before potential international travel.

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