The two VR apps went live this week on the Apple and Android app stores to celebrate the 15th anniversary of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.
NASA said both mobile apps put the entire universe at the tip of your fingers.
At the centre of both apps are the breathtaking discoveries and images taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope.
The incredible space telescope, formerly known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, is an infrared orbital observatory launched in 2003.
The space telescope’s photographs serve as the backdrops for the space-selfies you can snap with the app.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
NASA Selfies lets you put yourself inside a virtual telescope against one of the many iconic Spritzer photographs, such as the Milky Way Galaxy or Orion Nebula.
NASA said: “The simple interface means you just snap a photo of yourself, pick your background, and share on social media.
“The app also provides information about the science behind these stunning images.
“There are currently 30 eye-catching images to choose from, all taken by Spitzer.
“More images from the agency’s other science and human spaceflight missions will be added in the future.”
You can download the app right on the iOS App Store and Google Play.
But if you would rather explore the universe first hand then you should try out the NASA’s Exoplanet Excursions VR app.
The mobile app drops you right in the middle of the distant TRAPPIST-1 planetary system – one of the only known exoplanet systems with worlds roughly the size of Earth.
NASA said: “Spitzer played a major role in detecting these planets and providing information that has helped scientists learn about the planets’ likely compositions.
“The TRAPPIST-1 system is too far away for telescopes to directly observe these planets, but this VR experience features artists’ impressions of what the planets might look like.
“These impressions are based on data from Spitzer and other telescopes that have studied the TRAPPIST-1 system.”
The app will let you navigate five of the system’s seven planets, with the faint twinkle of stars in the distance.
The NASA app will be available for the Oculus and HTC Vive platforms through the Spitzer telescope mission website.
NASA confirmed the app will soon also make an appearance on the Oculus app store.
If you want to get a taste of what the TRAPPIST VR experience feels like, you can watch a 360 degree video on YouTube right here.
The 360 degrees exploration of TRAPPIST can be enjoyed on mobile, desktop and tablet devices – ideally with the aid of a VR headset like the Google Cardboard.