Do you 'see' the CMB map as a 3D glass sphere/ellipsoid?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roberto Pavani
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perception of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) map, specifically the standard Mollweide projection. The original poster describes a cognitive effect where the 2D Mollweide projection is mentally reconstructed into a 3D transparent ellipsoid or rugby ball, with the CMB temperature fluctuations mapped onto its surface. This effect involves simultaneous visualization of front and back hemispheres in a semi-transparent manner, akin to stereograms producing depth perception. The phenomenon is identified as a geometric mental un-projection rather than pareidolia or pattern recognition. The poster seeks confirmation if this 3D visualization experience is common among others viewing the CMB map.

PREREQUISITES

  • Understanding of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation and its significance
  • Familiarity with Mollweide projection as a method for mapping spherical data onto 2D surfaces
  • Basic knowledge of stereograms and depth perception mechanisms in visual cognition
  • Concepts of spherical geometry and map projections in astrophysics

NEXT STEPS

  • Study the mathematical properties of Mollweide and other equal-area map projections
  • Explore cognitive neuroscience research on 3D mental reconstruction from 2D projections
  • Investigate visualization tools that render CMB data in interactive 3D formats (e.g., Healpy, Planck Sky Model)
  • Examine stereoscopic visualization techniques applied to astrophysical data

USEFUL FOR

Astrophysicists, cosmologists, data visualization specialists, and cognitive scientists interested in the perception and representation of spherical cosmic data. This discussion benefits anyone working with CMB maps who seeks to understand or improve 3D visualization and interpretation of spherical astrophysical datasets.

Roberto Pavani
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When I look at the standard Mollweide projection of the CMB, after a few seconds my brain seems to "un-project" it into a 3D object, as if I'm looking at a transparent glass rugby ball from the outside, with the CMB pattern painted on its surface.
I get the impression of seeing both the front and back hemispheres superimposed in transparency, a bit like when a stereogram suddenly "pops" into depth.

I'm not talking about pareidolia (seeing faces or shapes in the pattern). It's more of a geometric thing, my brain tries to reverse the projection and reconstruct the sphere/ellipsoid it came from. It might just be an optical illusion or my imagination filling in the gaps.

I was wondering: does anyone else experience something similar, or does the map stay completely flat/2D for you? I have no idea whether this is common or just a quirk of how my brain processes these images.
 
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It's easy for me to imagine that green/yellow/red is foreground facing "out" and the light/dark blues are a view of the background facing "in".
Or I can see the yellow regions with red as foreground and yellow regions without much red as background.
 
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