Smithsonian VR – A new Smithsonian virtual reality experience in Washington’s Penn Quarter invites visitors to move through the cosmos using a 3D attraction built from actual scientific data.
When guests step into the new Smithsonian VR experience in Penn Quarter, they won’t be looking up at the sky. They’ll be inside it—stretching into the scale of the universe without ever lifting off from the ground.
The attraction is a 5,000-square-foot immersive, 3D virtual reality experience offered by the Smithsonian. It’s being framed as the first of its kind in D.C. designed to give visitors a window into the cosmos in a way that feels physical. Strap on a headset. and the experience is meant to make you feel like you’re floating. while pushing home just how vast the universe is.
The project is a collaboration between events company Fever and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Organizers say the experience was built from actual scientific data, and that designers consulted real-life astrophysicists to conceptualize the dimensions of the known universe.
Inside. the ride is described as a sequence of dramatic destinations: visitors can find themselves “standing on the surface of the sun. ” encountering the event horizon of a black hole. and being whisked away to take in the Pillars of Creation. The point. as described through the experience. is wonder—using enormous scale and recognizable astronomical landmarks to turn distance into something you can almost reach.
Details on the experience can be found on Smithsonian Starstruck’s website.
The announcement is being promoted through an episode of “Matt About Town. ” where WTOP’s Matt Kaufax gets “Starstruck!” during Thursday’s segment. “Matt About Town” is scheduled to air every Tuesday and Thursday on 103.5 FM. and the show is also available on YouTube. Viewers are directed to follow @WTOPNewsDC and @TheMattAboutTown for updates.
For anyone with a story idea, the segment also invites people to email Matt, or connect via Instagram and TikTok. All “Matt About Town” episodes can be found through the show’s page online.
Smithsonian VR virtual reality Penn Quarter astrophysicists cosmos Starstruck Fever Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Washington DC