European Southern Observatory Stars in “Hidden Universe”

Innerspace.net prinicipally covers the world launch industry, but  from time to time it is useful to remind ourselves of just why the drive to lower launch costs is  important in the first place.  One reason among many, to more fully and affordably explore the stunning nature of the universe around us.  In recent years, perhaps no institution has done a better job of giving us glimpses of that universe than the thoroughly ground based European Southern Observatory located in Chile’s remote Atacama Desert.  So, in a summer movie season fully stocked with sometimes mind numbing action thrillers, it might be pleasant change of course to check out “Hidden Universe” an IMAX 3D film featuring in part the outstanding work of the ESO.

From the ESO Press Release:

“Russell Scott directed the film, and worked on location during the shooting in November 2012. “The experience of filming in the Atacama Desert at such world-class observing facilities has been amazing,” he says. “Some of the otherworldly locations among the Andes mountains almost make you feel like you’re on another planet, and this sensation of nature — beyond what we are used to — is exactly what I want to transmit to the audience.”

From these extreme locations on Earth, the audience will be taken on a breathtaking tour of deep space in the cinematic medium that does it best: IMAX 3D. Viewers will peer deep inside vivid galaxies and nebulae, travel over the terrain of Mars, and witness stunning images of the Sun. The Universe is brought to life through real images and previously unseen giant-screen 3D simulations based on astronomical data gathered by the VLT, ALMA, and other telescopes such as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, creating an immersive IMAX 3D experience.”

Hidden Universe opened June 28th at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio as well as Copenhagen, Denmark and two loactions in Australia, Sidney and Melbourne.