3D astronomy: understanding the Universe in 3D

Tomo Goto^1*, Leo Lin¹, Simon Ho¹, Tiger Hsiao¹

¹Institute of Astronomy, NTHU, Hsinchu, Taiwan

* Presenter:Tomo Goto, email:tomo@gapp.nthu.edu.tw

In astronomy, data are two dimensional. Therefore, it has been problematic in perceiving the depth of the Universe. We overcome these problems by using a 3D printer, which help students understand the structure by touching the structures, rather than in numbers on a table. The resulting products/lectures can be used from high-school students to graduate studies, stimulating their scientific curiosity. We have implemented the method in a real class, “Introduction to Modern Cosmology”at NTHU. Students had an enjoyable time building various 3D objects in the Universe, while they were at the same time learning the 3D structure of the objects. We will present our experiences and feedback from students through the 3D astronomy project.

Keywords: 3D, Astronomy, Universe