Series: Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 09-Mar-2022
Time: 16:05-17:00 (4:05-5:00 pm)
Location: ATL 2400
Speaker: Dr. Tom Jarrett (Univresity of Cape Town)
Title: Immersive Data Exploration: Formulating the Definitive Local Universe Benchmark
In this presentation I will highlight two topics of active research in my sphere: scientific visualization of spectral imaging and large-scale structure using VR technology, and benchmarking the local star formation ‘main sequence’ using exquisite WISE imaging and measurements of the local universe. To start with, we have developed a software system that enables user-interaction and immersive exploration of 3D data, notably designed to work with HI spectral cubes from radio interferometers. I present the beta release of iDaVIE-v (immersive Data Visualization Interactive Explorer for volumetric rendering), which combines virtual reality (VR) technology and custom-built software to work with particle and volume data sets. Originally developed to serve the HI Radio Astronomy community for HI source identification, the software is now in the public sphere, with capabilities that will serve the broader astronomy community (e.g., redshift catalogues, cosmological simulations). I show examples in which the VR software has been used to analyze real data from the SKA Pathfinders, and notably report on the MeerKAT discovery of an extraordinary HI cloud complex found using this technology. And finally, I will give a sneak peak at the galaxy-evolution results coming from the WISE infrared study of over 10K galaxies carefully measured and characterized since the launch of WISE over 10 years ago.
Colloquia for the Fall 2020 semester will be held on zoom. Contact Dr. Leslie Sage for details.
Colloquium Organizer:
Dr. Leslie Sage
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
