You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit.

You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit.

      Smithsonian Starstruck allows visitors to drift past dying stars and witness the universe's origin point for just $18 per person.

      Most planetarium experiences require you to remain seated and gaze upward. However, the Smithsonian's new VR exhibit offers a different experience, enabling guests to traverse the vastness of the universe, floating past stars, planets, and a black hole to grasp its immense scale.

      A $29 ticket will take you to the edge of the galaxy.

      Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a 40-minute virtual reality journey that launched in Washington, D.C. in May, as reported by Ars Technica. Tickets range from $29 to $35 for individual visitors, with group rates as low as $18 per person, currently available at a 15% discount. The exhibition is expected to expand to cities like Denver, Orlando, and San Antonio later this year.

      Visitors don HTC Vive Focus 3 VR headsets and navigate a tour led by narrator James Seawood. Notable experiences include a beam-of-light demonstration near the Milky Way's black hole, a simulation of the dying star Betelgeuse going supernova, and a close encounter with the Sun alongside NASA’s Parker Solar Probe. The journey also includes stops at the exoplanet 55 Cancri Ae and the universe's origin point, concluding at the anticipated site of the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile, depicted as if construction were already complete.

      Adjust your visual expectations.

      Exhibits like this depend heavily on their technology, and Starstruck in D.C. is currently utilizing the Vive Focus 3, released by HTC in 2021. According to Ars Technica, the visual sharpness and clarity are compromised, particularly during quick head movements. HTC's newer Vive Focus Vision addresses many of these concerns and is slated to be used in Starstruck's future locations upon their opening later this year, although the Smithsonian has not specified when the D.C. exhibit will receive the upgrade.

      Despite the older technology, the main appeal of Starstruck is its perspective rather than resolution. Experiencing a star’s death or observing a beam of light bending into a black hole feels significantly more impactful when you are standing in it rather than watching it on a dome above. Whether attending alone for $29 or sharing the experience with friends at $18 each, it's a relatively small fee to come to terms with our insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe.

You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit. You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit. You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit. You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit. You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit. You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit.

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You can now stroll through space and look into a black hole at this virtual reality exhibit.

Smithsonian Starstruck allows visitors to journey through the Big Bang, approach the Sun, and stare into a black hole, all while staying in Washington, D.C.