Hubble on the NASA App

NASA's free mobile application puts Hubble interactives, resources, and information at your fingertips, including an augmented reality model exclusive to the NASA app. Use this app to stay up to date on all things Hubble!

AR Model
Hubble Over Earth
Additional Resources
Download the NASA App
Screenshot of the Hubble model from NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" web feature.
A model of the Hubble Space Telescope, taken as a screenshot from NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" web feature.
NASA

Hubble Augmented Reality (AR) 3D Model

Did you know that the NASA app has an AR feature? By using the app on your mobile device, you can make a small virtual model of the Hubble Space Telescope appear on your screen in whatever direction your camera is pointing ― on a shelf, on your desk, even in your classroom! Follow the steps below to try it yourself:

  • Step 1: Open the NASA App to arrive on the home page. You can either scroll down to the Featured heading and hit the "See All" arrow, or click on the "Featured" button at the bottom of the app (next to "Images").
  • Step 2: In the Featured section, scroll down to the AR Models heading and click the "See All" arrow. (You can also scroll to the right under AR Models to find the model you're looking for.)
  • Step 3: Scroll down to the "Hubble Space Telescope" model, and click on it.
Screenshots from the NASA App.
From left to right, these images represent Steps 1, 2, and 3 above.
NASA
  • Extra Step for Android Users: While the iOS version of the app will launch straight into the AR Mode, the Android version launches into Object Mode by default, where you can view the model of Hubble at a 360° angle against a gray background. To switch to AR Mode, press "View in your space" near the bottom of the screen. You can switch back to Object Mode at any time by pressing the cube symbol button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Screenshots from the NASA App.
This image shows NASA's Hubble AR model on Android devices in the default Object Mode (left) and in AR Mode (right).
NASA
  • Step 4: Move your phone camera as directed by the instructions on the screen over the area where you would like to project the model. Try to choose a flat space free of clutter, such as a desk or the floor.
  • Step 5: Once the app has scanned this area, the Hubble model will appear on your phone screen in this space. By using two fingers to make the "zoom-in"/"zoom-out" pinching motions on your screen, you can make the model larger or smaller; you can also rotate the model 360° to see it from different angles.
Screenshots from the NASA App.
These screenshots represent the above steps from left to right: Step 4; Step 5 (projected onto a carpeted floor); and Step 5 (a rotated model projected onto a tabletop).
NASA
  • For iOS Users: To see the Hubble model in "Object" Mode, where it's set against a gray background and not projected onto your environment (this is the initial mode for Android devices, as detailed above), click on "Object" button on the right at the top of the screen. You can switch back to AR Mode at any time by pressing the "AR" button on the left.
Screenshots from the NASA App.
This image shows NASA's Hubble AR model on iOS devices in the default AR Mode (left) and in Object Mode (right).
NASA

Hubble 3D Model Over Earth in NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" Feature

Hubble is featured in NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" interactive, which shows where it is currently located in its orbit around the Earth. This feature also allows users to see and travel to other spacecraft and to other objects in the solar system (e.g. the planets). To use it, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: At the top of the "Featured" page, click the "See All" arrow next to "Featured Missions".
  • Step 2: Scroll down to find "Hubble Space Telescope", and click on it.
  • Step 3: This will bring you to the Hubble website homepage. Note: From the toolbar at the bottom of the page, you can access several other Hubble-related multimedia resources as well (see "Additional Multimedia Resources" below), including the AR feature described under Hubble Augmented Reality.
  • Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" application, and you'll see Hubble in the center of your field of view.
Screenshots from the NASA App.
These screenshots represent the above steps from left to right: Step 1; Step 2; Step 3; and Step 4.
NASA
  • How to Use: By dragging your finger over the "Eyes on the Solar System" window, you can move Hubble relative to the background and see the orbits of other objects in space behind it. To find settings to adjust what appears in the window, scroll down below Hubble's story. You can also read Hubble's story, and keep scrolling down (under the words "Read More") to find settings to adjust what you can see on the app.
  • Additional Features: By clicking on the three lines in the top-right corner, you can virtually visit and learn more about numerous other solar system targets, and view news stories about famous solar system-related missions.
Screenshots from the NASA App.
The image on the left represents the "How to Use" step detailed above. The two images on the right relate to the "Additional Features" step.
NASA

Additional Multimedia Resources

In addition to the interactive features listed above, many of Hubble's multimedia resources available on this website ― such as images and videos ― can be found on the NASA app as well. You can even determine when you can spot Hubble flying across the sky from your location (the Sightings option on the toolbar on Hubble's website homepage page). By following Steps 1-3 of the Hubble 3D Interactive Model section above, you can use the toolbar at the bottom of Hubble's main page to access your favorite Hubble resources on the go!

Screenshots from the NASA App.
From left to right: screenshots from the NASA App of 1) the HST Images section; 2) one example image from this section; 3) the HST Videos section; and 4) one example video from this section.
NASA
Keep Exploring

Explore More Hubble

Hubble Science Highlights

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Hubble Multimedia

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Hubble Online Activities

Hubble Online Activities Banner

Hubble E-books

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