Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience

An immersive virtual reality exhibition made with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, presented at Transmission House in Manchester, that takes visitors through space and the life cycle of stars.

Smithsonian Starstruck is a virtual reality experience that places visitors inside the universe rather than only showing it to them. Made with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, it follows one continuous route through space, from clusters of luminous galaxies to the region close to a black hole, so that the surroundings change around the viewer as the journey proceeds.

Among the scenes, visitors stand beside the Whipple Observatory under a sky filled with constellations and climb aboard large telescopes to examine some of the cosmos's central questions. They hear the vibrations of the Sun and watch solar flares many times the size of the Earth. Another stop is an exoplanet where volcanoes erupt and diamonds glint beneath the surface. The sequence ends with a supernova, in which stellar material is recycled into new stars and planets, and with a supermassive black hole drawing a star into its pull.

Transmission House is a Manchester venue that hosts exhibitions and cultural events. The visit suits anyone curious about astronomy and space science who wants to see these phenomena from close range. Small groups enter together, and larger parties are admitted in staggered intervals.