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Visualizing Stars and Emission Nebulas
Author(s) -
Nadeau David R.,
Genetti Jon D.,
Napear Steve,
Pailthorpe Bernard,
Emmart Carter,
Wesselak Erik,
Davidson Dennis
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
computer graphics forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.578
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1467-8659
pISSN - 0167-7055
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8659.00472
Subject(s) - nebula , visualization , stars , orion nebula , computer science , volume (thermodynamics) , star (game theory) , surface (topology) , physics , computer graphics (images) , astrophysics , artificial intelligence , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
We describe star and nebula visualization techniques used to create a 3D volumetric visualization of the Orion Nebula. The nebula's ionization layer is modeled first as a surface model, derived from infrared and visible light observations. The surface model is imported into a volume scene graph‐based visualization system that uses procedural volume modeling to simulate the nebula's emissive gas layers. Additional scene graphs model proplyds and shock fronts within the nebula. Stars are rendered using Gaussian spots that are attenuated with distance. Finally, eighty‐six separate volumes are voxelized from these scene graphs, then simultaneously volume rendered.