ObserveToiles, National Geographic's first outdoor augmented reality planetarium

This innovative concept of astronomy and entertainment is the result of the collaboration between National Geographic, in partnership with Aryzon, in charge of the design of the augmented reality helmet, and Escapist Games, app creator.

Located in canada's Glen Sutton region, in the cantons of Eastern Quebec, Au Diable Vert Station is an outdoor base, more than 300 meters high and without light pollution, which now has the first outdoor augmented reality planetarium, called ObserveToiles, created by National Geographic, in partnership with specialists in this technology Aryzon and Escapist Games.

specifically, the Dutch Aryzon has been in charge of creating and designing the augmented reality helmet that visitors must wear, while the British Escapist Games has been busy developing the function with this technology adapted to astronomy.

Since its inauguration last June, ObservÉtoiles has already managed to become one of Canada's biggest tourist attractions. This unique planetarium has an air amphitheater, built on the mountainside, with the capacity to 180 heated seats, where visitors put on augmented reality helmets to see the celestial vault, the constellations,... designed by Jeremy Fontana, co-owner at Au Diable Vert station.

The goal of this planetarium, as Fontana explains, was to respond to all the people who visited the station and, seeing a starry sky, no light pollution or noise, they wanted to know what they saw at the time; with an innovative concept through augmented reality.

That's why, each of the projections is narrated by a guide, in charge of sharing the contents, which have been specifically designed for ObservÉtoiles by Andrew Fazekas, astronomy specialist and National Geographic columnist.

"I take care of the educational and scientific aspect," says Fazekas., and National Geographic provides its great capillarity and its international brand. Being outdoors under a very dark sky, full of countless stars is an experience that makes you very humble, and having this technology really helps unravel some of the mysteries of the night sky.. It's like nothing else that exists now.".

The show, ninety minutes long and in which Jeremy Fontana, Andrew Fazekas and National Geographic have worked for nearly two years, starts with a virtual journey through the solar system, followed by an exploration of the night sky over the amphitheater. Thanks to an augmented reality helmet the public can visualize illustrations of stars and constellations superimposed on the sky.

"Turning your head with your helmet, constellations appear and disappear, but they overlap with the real stars, explains Jeremy Fontana.. This is really the essence of augmented reality, you have both happening at the same time. You can see the sky and the real stars, but the fact that we superimpose the images of the constellations through augmented reality and tell the stories is the secret.".

In addition, this unique planetarium has also benefited from the recent designation by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as a 'dark sky reserve', the second of its kind in Quebec, after the Mont Mégantic observatory, "which makes it possible to see many more stars than in areas with high light pollution", says Fazekas.

All those involved in this project want to replicate it in other countries, with the aim of arousing the curiosity of young people, "of the next generation of astronomers, Astronauts, mathematicians and engineers, Fazekas emphasizes.. The idea is simply to make the sky inspiring and breathtaking for people., at the same time that it makes them happy, uniting education and entertainment"

Once the show is over, the ObservÉtoiles experience continues at home, as adults leave with an augmented reality helmet and a code to download the application and continue to know the stars and constellations.

Other articles on Aryzon, Au Diable Vert Station, Escapist Games, National Geographic, ObservEtoiles