In 2012, a science team interested in studying star clusters had an opportunity to obtain funding (through the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-2655) for an innovative idea to create 3D prints of HST science data. The first science program that the group was interested in was one focussed on the cluster Westerlund 2, -using Hubble Space Telescope Observations, lead by Dr. Antonella Nota (STScI and now the International Space Science Institute), The 3DAstro project our team created is led by Dr. Carol Christian (STScI). The purpose was to create tactile, uniquely textured, representations of our observations. The most engaging versions of the data are the full color imagery produced by combining the observations from different filters, but our process can be used to produce 3D prints for each filter observation if desired. Our goal was to create tactile models for use by individuals with blindness or visual impairment (BVI), but we encourage use by anyone who would benefit from the use of the 3D prints to enhance interest and understanding of astronomy.

Initially, we created tactile 3D representations of the star clusters and their surroundings based primarily our Hubble Space Telescope (referred to as HST or Hubble) observations as well as the data from other star cluster studies  . We developed an innovative process and custom software (see Technical description below) to transform 3D visualizations of HST, JWST and other astronomical data into solid 3D tactile patterned layers using data on star clusters. For example we used the scientific data for NGC 602 and Westerlund 2 to test our processes (Gallery 1). Our ultimate goal is to produce 3D prints for objects in the universe so that anyone can experience and touch the cosmos at home, in school, in libraries and in museums. We also have produced 3D prints of galaxies from the HST LEGUS survey. Follow on projects include creating 3D tactile printes of solar system objects, exoplanets, and multi-wavelength observations of astronomical objects using data from other telescopes.

Now we have embarked on producing data from the James Webb Space Telescope (referred to as JWST or Webb), and some of these observations are offered here in Gallery 3, and others are being created from data being obtained by scientists using JWST for amazing research.

The 3D scientific data for an astronomical objects derived from observational data can be arranged into digital representations, each imprinted with touchable patterning then printed on a 3D printer. The textured layers and surfaces represent different components of complex star formation regions for star clusters (gas, dust, filamentary structure and stars) and for galaxies (star clusters, spiral arms, gas, dust, the bulge region and the central cusp often representing a supermassive black hole).

Where does the data originate?

The 3D scientific data for an astronomical objects are derived from observations obtained with Hubble, JWST, and other telescopes, available through the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST: archive.stsci.edu) . The analysis of NGC602 was arranged into digital textured layers and surfaces representing different components of  the complex star formation in the cluster. Similar data from press releases (Hubblesite and Webbtelescope) for HST and JWST star clusters, nebula and galaxies are in the MAST archive, published in scientific literature and which inform the Press Releases.  Data for planets comes from other satellites and also some astronomical observatory observations including HST and JWST.   Sometimes the prints must be split in pieces,  printed, and then fitted together so they are large enough for exploration by touch.

Major accomplishments

• Star Clusters: Adopt NGC 602 star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud as the prototype object, then apply to Westerlund 2 as data became available
• Graphically annotate HST imagery of NGC 602 to delineate individual features
• Determine distances and intensities for each feature in the complex structure
• Assign tactile textures to the individual features
• Produce small test pieces from the data with textures imposed on feature instensities 
• Test pieces at various venues including NFB National Convention and other conferences
• Revise textures based on testing
• Create custom software to transform astronomical data into file formats appropriate for 3D printing
• Produce larger (approximately 8.5 x 11 inch) tactile prints that were able to fit on the Makerbot Replicator 5, and later, the Ultimaker 3 and Ender Creality Pro printers  
• Test at NFB events, conferences, schools and museumsin informal sessions and revise textures and production methodology
• Adopt the standard texture template and apply to other objeccts - Westerlund 2, Lagoon Nebula and others.
• Distribute prints on 3DAstro (this) website and publically through NASA 
• Integrate 3D Astronomy Products into the Astronomy Career Exploration Lab

Galaxies and Nebulae
• Adapt thte 3D texture template for the various features in star clusters for prints of galaxies
• Modify software to produce 3D two sided galaxies (assumes galaxies are symmetric around plane of the sky or other model plane, which they are not, but this is a surrogate for real galaxies since the features of the unobserved side are unknown)
• Adapt similar treatment for nebula. Much hand tuning usually required for the textures.

Other objects
• Create additioal prints on Solar System Objects, Exoplanets and other objects using a pipeline of Photoshop treatment and Blender    

Objectives

We are creating custom innovative processes to transform imagery of astronomical objects into 3D tactile printouts. The production pieces are aimed primarily at individuals with BVI who do not usually have an opportunity to experience Hubble Space Telescope imagery, or any astronomical imagery or visualizations represented as imagery. Secondarily the 3D printouts can be used by any individual especially those who appreciate tactile learning methods.

We strive to improve public understanding of astronomy and science in general contributing to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills for youth and any interested individual.

Deliverables

• A process for transforming astronomical data to tactile 3D printout format
• Create a method for distributing 3D print files widely for any individual to print and use
• Augment the 3D prints with informative materials for better understanding of astronomy
• Expand the print product suite to multi-wavelength data and additional objects (planets, exoplanets and others)   

Collaborations

• Star Formation at Your Fingertips, C. Christian, A. Nota, N. Grice, L. Bradley, J. Eisenhamer with contributions from E. Sabbi, N. Shaheen, R. Rao, L. Genth
• Galaxies at Your Fingertips, C. Christian, A. Nota, N. Grice, L. Bradley, J. Eisenhamer with contributions from A. Voelker, D. Calzetti and the LEGUS Science Team
• Career Exploration Lab, T. Madura (P.I.), C. Christian, D. Hurd, K. Silberman, W. Diaz-Merced and CEL local teams

Technical Description

We are using the unique process developed at STScI to transform Hubble (and JWST and other) data and images into tactile touchable 3D representations. These prints represent the spatial extent of the objects as seen on the sky, as well as the intensity of the radiation emitted as a surrogate for the amount of mass present in the object. Obviously, this is not a strict representation of structure and physics but neither are color images of astronomical objects. However they are useful, instructive, and inspiring.

Our approach to produce 3D prints, is to use the research data analysis, published in refereed scientific journals to guide the representation of the main features of the objects (components such as stars, gas, dust, spiral structure, filamentary structures, galactic bulges, massive black holes) and to add specific, unique, tactile textures to the 3D prints so that specific features can be identified by touch. Astronomical data has been represented using a variety of tactile tools (beads, cotton, paper, swell form and relief prints) including 3D prints with the intensity, some other astrophysical feature such as velocity field or simulation. Our unique materials use texture to represent specific features in the astronomical object. All astronomical data from HST and JWST as well as numerous other missions are available through MAST.

The general goal of all of these efforts creating tactile astronomical materials is to enable students with BVI and their educators, but also others, to experience and learn about astronomy in a way that does not rely on vision. We felt that the 3D prints and specifically the textures used should be reviewed, analagous to a commercial "product review" (c.f., https://smallbusiness.chron.com/premarket-research-64719.html) before integration into structured educational or outreach programs or general public distribution. The optimal textures were determined first, through presenting a sample of textures (analagous to a sampler of rug textures, or countertop materials) to volunteers at a variety of meetings and conferences. Following the input from the review of the individual textures we made some minor adjustments (rougher texture in some cases, smoother texture in others, etc.) and then adopted the most favored textures as a template for our prints. The textures would be used for star clusters nebulae, and galaxies so that individuals could make correspondence between objects of the same type (e.g., clusters), as well as objects of different types containing the same fundamental components (stars, gas, dust, filamentary structures), e.g., nebulae and galaxies. This work was approved by an IRB from Johns Hopkins University

The research and test data are from two studies, one of star clusters, including but not exclusively Westerlund 2 and the LEGUS galaxies. We have spent considerable time (years) creating the process, writing the software, and testing the 3D prints in a variety of circumstances before they could be incorporated in any  bone fide learning environment. Through the testing process we also modified the code and continued to refine and improve the graphical user interface that allows the user to assign textures to the most significant features that should be emphasized. The resolution of the textures is dependent on a number of variables, for example the textures themselves, the plastic filament used for 3D printing, and the size of a human finger among a few.

In brief, the software, called astro3d, ingests imagery of several types (jpg, tif, fits, etc.) and assigns textures to regions delineated by the user through an interactive user interface. Some automatic processing allows the user to assign the major textures (a grid of rough dots or soft dots called stipple) to gas and dust (or spiral arms and "not spiral arms") regions based on intensity. The user interface allows the user to add textures with a "paint" type tool similar to that found in Adobe Photoshop, or creating a region (circle, triangle, etc.) in which a specific texture will be used. Star symbols are assigned by hand or user supplied catalogs. The bulges of galaxies are assigned a distinct texture as is the super massive black hole at the center of some galaxies. The ouput of the software is the printable stl file along with data for the textures, stars, star clusters (in galaxies) and other features. For other astronomical objects and simulated images, a pipeline of Photoshop and Blender  are used to create the stl file, or a combination of the software processes. The star clusters and galaxies can be also designed with  Photoshop graphics applied to files  ingested into Blender (which exports the requisite stl files).                    

The collaboration with T. Madura of San Jose State University (SJSU) and a large team addresses the use and associated research on the effectiveness of assistive technologies including 3D print products for teaching astronomy. Our project, called the Career Exploration Lab, focusses on creating an awareness and enthusiasm for science as well as introducing the educators of students to our techniques and materials, and their students with BVI to science and  career possibilities such as internships at GSFC, universities, and industries. The first lab was held at the South Carolina Commission for the Blind in 2017 and has been repeated several times. A second lab was held at the Michigan Bureau of Services for the Blind already 3 time. Several Educator Partner Institutes have been held and additional CELs were held in 2019 and restarted in late 2021 and 2022 supported by both NASA and NSF funding.

References for this work can be found in the Project Updates

Software and printing information can be found in How to Print

Images

Makerbot5 Printing: Standard 1.75 mm PLA is used and the STL files, created with the design software, were processed with the Makerbot Desktop slicing software (unsupported now). Makerbot Print and other slicing software such as Simplify 3D and Cura can be used successfully as well.

The Makerbot5 printing a 3D representation of the galaxy NGC3344.

Star Clusters

NGC602 3DAstroProject: The HST image of the star cluster NGC602 and its 3D print (2.5 D actually) representing the main features of the cluster region including stars, dust, gas and filament. The position in the sky and the intensity of the features are represented. Features have a texture applied to distinguish them. These prints were tested in a variety of environments with visually impaired individuals of all ages. (8 to 80 years of age). These prints were made using our HST data from NGC602.

Westerlund 2: The data for Westerlund 2 was obtained in 2018 and used fabricating prints for that cluster.

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LEGUS Galaxies, https://legus.stsci.edu

Galaxies in the LEGUS survey are being studied for its star cluster population to understand the relationship between star cluster formation, star formation, and parent galaxy morphology and environment.

NGC1566: This galaxy from LEGUS sample Is a beautiful galaxy located approximately 40 million light-years away in the constellation of Dorado (The Dolphinfish). NGC 1566 is an intermediate spiral galaxy, meaning that while it a loosely defined bar-shaped region of stars at its center — similar to bone fide barred spirals. The small but extremely bright nucleus of NGC 1566 is clearly visible, a telltale sign of its membership of the Seyfert class of galaxies. The centers of such galaxies are very active and luminous, emitting strong bursts of radiation and potentially harboring supermassive black holes that are many millions of times the mass of the sun. NGC 1566 is not just any Seyfert galaxy; it is the second brightest Seyfert galaxy known.

NGC3344: Approximately 20 million light-years away in the constellation Leo Minor (the Lion Cub), NGC 33444 is seen from a face-on perspective. Half the size of the Milky Way, it is classified as a weakly barred spiral galaxy. The central bar is just visible in this image, an elongated lane of stars, trailing through the nucleus of the galaxy. The swirling spiral arms are the birthplace of new stars, whose high temperatures make them shine blue, resulting in them being easily identifiable in this image. Clouds of dust and gas distributed through the spiral arms, glowing red in this image, are reservoirs of material for even more stars.