TINYPLANET
Photogrammetry · Gaussian Splatting

Documenting and preserving places few people get to see.

TinyPlanet brings hard-to-reach places closer through 3D reconstructions created from photographs. Our first collection invites you to explore astronomical observatories in Chile with Gaussian Splatting.

Explore observatoriesView the collection ↓
6 observatories in the collectionReconstruction from photographs3D exploration in your browser
The collection

Observatories from a new perspective.

From the antennas of ALMA to the telescopes on Cerro Pachón: discover the places from which we observe the universe. The explorer brings the available reconstructions together on an interactive map.

Each card opens Observatory Explorer at the selected observatory. You can also explore the complete collection from the map.

Observatory Explorer

Choose a place.
Start exploring.

Find observatories on the map or in the viewer collection and discover their reconstructions. A way to experience these spaces beyond a photograph.

Open the 3D explorer ↗
From photographs to space

A new way to revisit a place.

Reconstruction starts with photographs taken from different positions. Gaussian Splatting represents the scene with Gaussian elements that generate new views and let you explore its appearance in three dimensions.

  1. 01 / CAPTURE

    Document the place

    Photographs from different viewpoints provide the visual information needed to reconstruct the scene.

  2. 02 / RECONSTRUCTION

    Turn images into 3D

    Estimating cameras and training the representation recovers the spatial appearance of the place.

  3. 03 / EXPLORATION

    Share the experience

    The reconstruction is prepared for an interactive viewer, allowing you to explore details from new perspectives.

Learn about Gaussian Splatting →
Other projects · Astronomy

From observatories to the universe.

Alongside reconstructing places, TinyPlanet develops experiences for exploring astronomical data. Two projects complement this collection.

Galaxies and quasars

DESI DR1

An experience visualizing cosmic structure from the DESI DR1 catalog, with over 15 million galaxies and quasars.

Explore DESI DR1 ↗
Solar System

MPC Orbit Atlas

An interactive atlas of orbits and minor bodies in the Solar System, with tours of the main belt, near-Earth objects and comets.

Explore Orbit Atlas ↗
Before exploring

Frequently asked questions

What am I seeing in a reconstruction?
A 3D representation computed from photographs. It is not a live feed: it records the appearance of the place during capture. It may contain incomplete areas or artifacts, especially where photographic coverage is limited.
Do I need to install an application?
The projects open in your browser. Loading times and performance depend on your connection, the scene size and your device’s graphics capabilities.
How do I find an observatory?
Open Observatory Explorer and use the map, collection or name search. It brings together reconstructions of ALMA, Paranal, SOAR, Gemini South, CTIO and Vera C. Rubin.
Are DESI and Orbit Atlas also photographic reconstructions?
They are astronomical data visualization projects. They complement our photogrammetric reconstruction work, using object and orbit catalogs to explore the universe and the Solar System.
TinyPlanet · Chile

More places to discover.

Want to discuss a reconstruction, share an idea or learn more about the project?

Contact