Interactive 3D Visualization for Theoretical Virtual Observatories

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state of 3D visualization techniques for large theoretical astronomical datasets within virtual observatories, highlighting challenges and presenting a new lightweight visualization tool for particle data.

Contribution

It introduces a lightweight client-server visualization tool for particle datasets and discusses challenges in interactive 3D visualization for theoretical data in virtual observatories.

Findings

Current 3D visualization methods are limited for large datasets.

The proposed tool enables interactive filtering and visualization of particle data.

Two use cases demonstrate practical applications within the Theoretical Astrophysical Observatory.

Abstract

Virtual Observatories (VOs) are online hubs of scientific knowledge. They encompass a collection of platforms dedicated to the storage and dissemination of astronomical data, from simple data archives to e-research platforms offering advanced tools for data exploration and analysis. Whilst the more mature platforms within VOs primarily serve the observational community, there are also services fulfilling a similar role for theoretical data. Scientific visualization can be an effective tool for analysis and exploration of datasets made accessible through web platforms for theoretical data, which often contain spatial dimensions and properties inherently suitable for visualization via e.g. mock imaging in 2d or volume rendering in 3d. We analyze the current state of 3d visualization for big theoretical astronomical datasets through scientific web portals and virtual observatory services. We discuss some of the challenges for interactive 3d visualization and how it can augment the workflow of users in a virtual observatory context. Finally we showcase a lightweight client-server visualization tool for particle-based datasets allowing quantitative visualization via data filtering, highlighting two example use cases within the Theoretical Astrophysical Observatory.