Why look at space in 3D? Our new book, “Stars in Your Hand: A Guide to 3D Printing the Cosmos,” explains why seeing the Universe in three dimensions has been nearly impossible for so long, and what has changed in recent years to make it a reality today. 

This companion site will help you experience data collected by the world’s most powerful telescopes in new ways, both digitally and in the form of 3D prints. We invite you to hold a star in your hand, or perhaps a galaxy or a black hole, and find out what happens when you add a new dimension to exploring your Universe.

Additional files are available in the Stars in Your Hand Samples collection. NASA maintains an extensive library of 3D resources including many of the files used in “Stars in Your Hand”. All are free to download and use.