Ask Onix
Queen guitarist's groundbreaking 3D book brings galaxies to life
Sir Brian May, alongside physicist Derek Ward-Thompson and astrophotographer J-P Metsavainio, has unveiled Islands in Infinity: Galaxies 3D, a book that transforms two-dimensional telescope images into immersive three-dimensional views of distant galaxies-achieved through years of meticulous manual processing.
The challenge of cosmic depth
While modern telescopes-including orbital observatories-have expanded humanity's view into the universe, traditional flat images fail to capture the true scale of galaxies, each containing billions of stars and vast clouds of cosmic gas. The trio's solution? Stereo photography, a technique May has championed for decades, which simulates depth by presenting slightly offset images through a specialized viewer.
Unlike Earth-based stereo photography, where a simple camera shift (dubbed the "cha cha" method by Apollo astronauts) suffices, galactic 3D imaging demands artificial parallax. Metsavainio, a Finnish astrophotographer with 30 years of experience, achieves this by painstakingly adjusting each pixel in his compositions to mimic the perspective of eyes separated by light-years-without relying on AI.
"There's no way to 'cha cha' in space with any effect. J-P has his magic ways to create the parallax differences you'd have if your eyes were thousands of light-years apart."
Sir Brian May
Decades of discovery in a single volume
Ward-Thompson, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire, contributes 40 years of galactic research to the project. He highlights how scientific understanding has evolved-revealing, for instance, that the Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, not the "normal" spiral once assumed. "We only know this because of new wavelengths, space telescopes, and infrared satellites," he notes.
The book's 3D renderings expose galaxies in unprecedented detail:
- NGC 253: A blue-and-gold spiral resembling an antique pendant.
- NGC 3925: Ripple-like rings, likely formed by a galactic collision.
- NGC 4567/4568: Two galaxies mid-collision, described by Ward-Thompson as a "train wreck of the cosmos."
Removing cosmic 'clutter'
Metsavainio's process involves eliminating foreground stars and galaxies from the Milky Way to isolate distant subjects. "I'm a star destroyer," he jokes, explaining that a single image-like his 12-year, 1,200-exposure composite of the Milky Way-requires removing thousands of obstructions to reveal the target galaxy's true form. The result, he says, underscores the "mind-blowing" emptiness between Earth and, for example, the Andromeda Galaxy: 2.5 million light-years of near-vacuum.
A bridge between art and science
The book, written by Ward-Thompson and edited by May, balances scientific rigor with accessibility. It weaves together:
- The history of galactic discovery, from early assumptions to modern revelations.
- Human stories behind astronomical breakthroughs, including interviews with researchers.
- Visual storytelling through Metsavainio's 3D artistry, which aligns with known astrophysical data.
May emphasizes the timeliness of the project, coinciding with advancements like Chile's Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which began operations in June. "We wanted to make the universe understandable and exciting-not just for experts, but for anyone who's ever gazed at a galaxy and wondered," he says.
"Part of the beauty is telling how our knowledge has evolved. When I was a student, we thought the Milky Way was a 'normal' spiral. Now we know it's barred-thanks to decades of new technology."
Derek Ward-Thompson
How to experience the 3D effect
Readers can view the stereo images using an Owl viewer, designed by May and included with the book. The process involves:
- Holding the viewer 10-15 cm (4-6 in) from the image.
- Relaxing the eyes (no squinting) until the dual images merge into a single 3D scene.
The technique, while labor-intensive, offers an unparalleled glimpse into the universe's structure-one that even seasoned astronomers haven't experienced. "We've never seen galaxies like this before," May reflects.
Availability
Islands in Infinity: Galaxies 3D is available through The London Stereoscopic Company, May's publishing imprint specializing in stereo photography.
