Virtual Reality ( VR ) technology has been subject to a rapid democratization in recent years , driven in large by the entertainment industry , and epitomized by the emergence of consumer-grade , plug-and-play , room-scale VR devices .
To explore the scientific potential of this technology for the field of observational astrophysics , we have created an experimental VR application : E0102-VR .
The specific scientific goal of this application is to facilitate the characterization of the 3D structure of the oxygen-rich ejecta in the young supernova remnant 1E 0102.2-7219 in the Small Magellanic Cloud .
Using E0102-VR , we measure the physical size of two large cavities in the system , including a ( 7.0 \pm 0.5 ) pc-long funnel structure on the far-side of the remnant .
The E0102-VR application , albeit experimental , demonstrates the benefits of using human depth perception for a rapid and accurate characterization of complex 3D structures .
Given the implementation costs ( time-wise ) of a dedicated VR application like E0102-VR , we conclude that the future of VR for scientific purposes in astrophysics most likely resides in the development of a robust , generic application dedicated to the exploration and visualization of 3D observational datasets , akin to a “ ds9-VR ” .