A computer strapped to my face for 40 minutes. A tour of the Universe — the Sun, the black hole at the center of our galaxy, an exoplanet 41 light-years away. And yeah, I was sweating a bit. But not just from the headset.
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience opened in Washington, DC back in May. Adult tickets run $29 to $35, group tickets start at $18 each, and there’s a 15% discount running. It’s heading to Denver, Orlando, San Antonio later this year.
The setup is straightforward. You sign a waiver, set your preferences like closed captioning, and strap on an HTC Vive Focus 3 headset. A virtual guide — voiced by James Seawood in what looks like a SpaceX-style suit — walks you through the universe’s greatest hits.
The Big Bang, the Pillars of Creation, a stellar nursery. You’ll stand on glowing hexagonal blocks and zoom from thousands of galaxies down to a dangerously close pass by the Sun — with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe keeping you company. The tour also features Hubble, Chandra, and the James Webb Space Telescope.
Each stop offers a “Take a picture” button that doesn’t seem to do much. But honestly, you’re too busy staring at cosmic chaos to care.
The Vive Focus 3 is a 2021 model, and the visuals blur a bit when you move your head fast. Other cities will use the newer Vive Focus Vision, and DC plans to upgrade eventually. Still, none of that kills the experience.
I sat on a bench beforehand and watched another attendee blurt out “Oh my God!” while wearing the headset. Can’t blame them.
