Virtual Hubble

I created a 3-D virtual reality model of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) using VRML version 1. To view and manipulate this model you must have a VRML viewer installed in your web browser. The animation above gives you an idea of how this model can be manipulated in a VRML viewer. There are a few different versions of the model, which are described below. See the VRML code that creates the 3-D HST model.

Version A is the primary version which includes both external and internal features (i.e. mirrors and science instruments, which are visible if you set your viewer to wireframe mode or zoom inside the telescope). Version AX (the "quick start" version) emphasizes external features, while Version AI emphasizes internal features. Version E is more of a "world view" where you can make the telescope orbit around the Earth (see this animation). Version P includes the HST field-of-view and lightpath to emphasize telescope pointing.

See these related links:

• CNN's Virtual Hubble has much more detail, because it uses VRML version 2.
• The Smithsonian's Virtual Hubble
• NASA's servicing mission model
• NCSA's 3-D astronomical images
• NASA Goddard's Interactive Universe includes the solar system, local stars, and galaxies.