Cosmic Stroll 2

Introduction

Developed by Blue Donut Studios and Blue Donut Games with the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, Cosmic Stroll is set aboard a virtual space station. Information panels explain the project and contextualise how distant objects are observed, how galaxies appear to move, and the relationship between distance and time.

Users can leave the airlock and enter space to explore a sample of real scientific data showing distant galaxies in three dimensions. The experience is designed to give audiences a sense of the scale and history of the universe.

See real astrophysics data

The experience uses galaxy data collected through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III. The space-station exhibits combine scientific context with spatial exploration, allowing visitors to move from explanatory panels into the dataset itself.

VR immersion

Cosmic Stroll was developed for use on desktop and mobile devices as well as VR. A Meta Quest version supports headset-based exploration and allows users to inspect galaxies and information panels at spatial scale.

• Real scientific data
• An educational tool and virtual experience
• Open space containing surveyed galaxy data
• Information panels explaining the project
• Desktop, mobile and Meta Quest access