Hold the Stars in Your Hands With NASA’s 3D Models

Aerospace is an industry that relies heavily on 3D technologies, whether to speed up prototyping, research or create end-use parts. Indeed, tools like 3D scanning and 3D printing are of paramount importance to many engineers and key players in the sector, including NASA. One example is how NASA has created complex 3D models of our stars and other sky objects to advance astronomical research.

Using data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, a team of NASA researchers has succeeded in making spectacular images of space tangible, based on the latest theoretical models, algorithms and observations from the observatory. Four new NASA 3D models have just been published, and that’s not all: the models are fully 3D printable, making it possible to study constellations in greater depth. This allows astronomers – or any space fan – to explore these distant objects in the starry sky up close.

A telescope image of the young star BP-Tau. In the video further below, you can see the 3D model.

But which objects were published? The observatory chose one star – BP Tau, and three supernova remnants – Cassiopeia A, G292.0+1.8 and the Cygnus loop. All the models reveal surprising details that even telescopic vision cannot provide.