People can explore space through NASA 3D web app

PanARMENIAN.Net - NASA has created a real-time 3D browser-based experience that lets people explore the planets and their moons, asteroids, and other objects in our solar system, as well as the spacecrafts that are exploring these objects.

According to Geek.com, the browser-based app, called “Eyes on the Solar System,” uses video game technology and NASA data to let people control their point of view by clicking and dragging mouse. NASA said this is the first time the public will actually be able to see the whole solar system as well as NASA’s missions as they move together in real-time. The app actually lets follow NASA spacecrafts.

To get started with Eyes on the Solar System it needed to download the Unity Web Player, which is a free plug-in for both Mac and PC, and then to go explore the models of the planets, comets, and asteroids.

In addition to seeing missions in real-time, people can also travel back in time thanks to NASA data that dates from as far back as 1950. They can also travel to the future with projected data that goes up to 2050.

There are various views available, as well as a number of controls located on pop-up menus to really customize the experience. Tabs across the bottom let the user chose the time, destination, and speed. With e a pair of red-cyan glasses, peeple can even see the content in 3D.