E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSUntil someone actually puts a high-definition Imax camera on an interplanetary probe, Stephen van Vuuren's fly-through of the Saturnian system may stand as one of the most ambitious non-profit efforts to create a virtual spaceflight using real images. This test clip is for a big-screen movie project titled "Outside In." The video draws upon still photographs from the Cassini mission to Saturn. Watch it in full-screen mode if you can, with the sound turned on so you can sample Samuel Barber's heartbreakingly beautiful Adagio for Strings, op. 11.
Tip o' the Log to Keith Cowing at NASA Watch.
Leave a Comment:
It is wonderfully real for those who wish it could be us up there. it is great PR for the Space Programs.
One of the real pleasures of working in astronomy is seeing exceptional views of the Universe; jaw-droppingly beautiful images of the heavens.
This video is truly exceptional - one of the most astonishing astro videos I've ever seen.
Thanks for sharing it Alan!
If there ever was a reason to do a move in 3-D this would be it. Screw what is hot, or popular in fictional media, I wanna watch something like this, and have it be as close to real as on can get without actually being there. Oh if only the world could look to space the way those of us who are asto-nuts, both professionally, and amature-ly do.
Beautiful simply beautiful, I love it
What an awesome idea. HD 3d data from a space probe, as you may already know the data from the last asteroid fly by came in at kilobytes per second. It would be quite a feat to recieve realtime video data, preprocessed, at the bandwidth neccesary to have 3d HD, BUT...I am sure it could be done. The deep space network is still in the preliminary stages, there is intent to deploy several relay stations and in light of the knee jerk reactions around the globe to cut every program visible to the taxpayer, I would hate to be the one to suggest that what is required is a lot more relay stations, and a serious upgrade to the hardware to be deployed. That is exactly what needs to be done though. Note that a strong degree of cooperation brings us data from mars as I type this. The concept of a wide area deep space network is one of the many "backbones" that will enable future missions, insure a greater probablilty of success and most surely enable quality manned missions beyond our planet. A little hard for any given politician to take to his voters and say, see what I have done, but a key stepping stone. Imagine if you were an astronaut on a multiyear mission to jup and sat. Two way internet, replete with skype would make the distance from the families more bearable, and a positive connection, instead of this on again off again stuff of simplex, weak signal, analog, non error correcting data connection we have now. Our space agencies do a good job with the seventies tech they have been given. You mentioned imax, they would have a stake in this, maybe they and some others could find an investment opportunity...heck, I could tolerate a little pizza hut icon in the lower left hand corner...for the most part, I do already on a lot of the news media I see much of the space exploration on....maybe it's not autozone or napa....just the network logo. DSN. Hmmm. I could see disney being a major investor...not so sure I would like it if it was BP or fox or (the list continues ad infinite-um)...........please note, a 2 way skype consversation would provide a lot of time in between receptions and transmissions for advertising...maybe saturday live could do a mock-up of that for a gag. Still the overall idea has merit.
Incredible. Thanks for sharing Alan :)
Hauntingly beautiful. Extraordinary. We need more of these types of images perhaps somewhat longer and in 3D.
Too bad Carl Sagan didn't live to see this.
I simply am in awe of this video! That was just incredible! I am so envious of those that, one day, get to do this for real!
i really liked the video of saturn please email me some more videos. thanks