100,000 Stars [stars.chromeexperiments.com]
An interactive 3D visualization of the 100,000 stars nearest to our Sun, built as a Chrome Experiment. Zoom from our solar system out into the Milky Way.
The Observatory
Science, learning, niche research, educational
Science, learning, niche research, educational
#
A
Apollo in Real Time [apolloinrealtime.org]
Real-time re-experiences of the Apollo 11, 13, and 17 missions using entirely historical material — audio, video, photos, and mission data synced to the original timeline.
Astronomy Picture of the Day [apod.nasa.gov]
A different image or photograph of our universe every day, with explanations by professional astronomers.
B
Bartosz Ciechanowski [ciechanow.ski]
Deeply interactive explainers on physics and engineering — GPS, mechanical watches, light, sound, cameras, and more. Each article is a masterpiece of animated, hands-on visualization.
I
Information Is Beautiful [informationisbeautiful.net]
David McCandless's studio dedicated to making sense of the world through data visualization. Beautifully designed infographics and interactive charts on everything from science to pop culture.
J
Javalab [javalab.org]
A collection of interactive science simulations and coding tools covering physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, earth science, and mathematics. Includes block-coding environments and probeware integration. Made in South Korea.
Justin O'Beirne [justinobeirne.com]
Deep-dive essays on cartography and map design — best known for exhaustive visual analyses comparing Apple Maps and Google Maps, documenting how each renders the world differently.
M
MarineTraffic [marinetraffic.com]
Real-time global ship tracking using AIS data. An interactive world map showing the live positions of 300,000+ vessels — cargo ships, tankers, ferries, and more.
Mental Landscape [mentallandscape.com]
The personal website of Don P. Mitchell with resources on Soviet space exploration, Nikola Tesla, computer graphics, and science.
Metric Time [metric-time.com]
A live clock reimagining the day in base-10: 10 hours, 100 minutes per hour, 100 seconds per minute. A thought experiment in decimal time made real.
N
NASA Image and Video Library [images.nasa.gov]
Search and download images, audio, and video from NASA missions, spacecraft, and history — all free and publicly accessible.
P
Ptable [ptable.com]
An interactive periodic table with rich data layers — visualize element properties, electron configurations, 3D orbitals, isotopes, radioactive decay modes, and compound mixing. Includes a temperature slider showing states of matter.
S
Sandbox Science [sandbox-science.com]
Interactive science simulations in the browser — Conway's Game of Life, Particle Life, and Hash Life. Watch emergent complexity arise from simple rules.
Satellite Map [satellitemap.space]
A live real-time map tracking the positions of Starlink, SpaceX, Amazon LEO, and GPS satellites as they orbit Earth right now.
Scale of Universe [scaleofuniverse.com]
An interactive zoom through the scale of everything — from quantum strings to the observable universe. Scroll to explore objects at every order of magnitude.
Science Hobbyist [amasci.com]
Articles, essays, and resources for amateur scientists and electronics hobbyists covering electricity, Tesla coils, and weird science.
Stellafane – Telescope Making Guide [stellafane.org]
A comprehensive guide to making telescopes from the Springfield Telescope Makers, the birthplace of amateur telescope making.
Stellarium [stellarium-web.org]
Explore the night sky in real time — a planetarium for your browser.
T
The Tonnetz [thetonnetz.com]
An interactive visualization of the Tonnetz — a musical lattice used in music theory to map harmonic relationships between notes and chords.
The True Size Of... [thetruesize.com]
An interactive map that lets you drag countries around the globe to compare their true sizes — revealing how much the Mercator projection distorts the relative scale of landmasses.
V
Ventusky [ventusky.com]
Stunning animated weather maps showing wind, rain, temperature, clouds, and more in real time. A beautiful way to watch the atmosphere move across the globe.
Visual Phenomena & Optical Illusions [michaelbach.de]
A collection of 154 interactive optical illusions and visual phenomena by Michael Bach, with scientific explanations for each. Emphasizes beauty, interactivity, and understanding over cheap tricks.
W
WorldWide Telescope [worldwidetelescope.org]
An interactive browser-based telescope that lets you explore the universe — seamlessly pan through imagery from the Hubble, Chandra, and other observatories stitched into a navigable sky map.