Concept
On nights when a full moon appears so clear that even its craters become visible to the naked eye, I am always overwhelmed. That simple emotional experience led me to wonder whether immersive technology could allow us to observe the Moon even closer and with greater realism. This idea became the starting point of this project.
Recent improvements in passthrough technology on VR devices have significantly enhanced the realism of mixed-reality overlays. Rather than observing celestial objects inside a closed virtual scene, I felt there was greater potential in placing astronomical phenomena directly within the real environment. This direction naturally connects to a future in which AR glasses may bring virtual objects seamlessly into everyday life.
Although lunar-phase websites are abundant online, showing that people frequently follow the Moon in their daily lives, XR applications offering a similarly accessible experience are still limited. Through astronomical calculations, the system simulates the position of sunlight, the illuminated fraction, and the viewing perspective from your current location, recreating the appearance of the Moon for a given date. With simple input controls, users can move through the lunar phases and look up information for yesterday’s Moon or tomorrow’s Moon in a continuous flow.
Technical Overview
To reproduce the surface realistically, NASA’s CGI Moon Kit is used, loading genuine lunar topography as eight high-resolution texture tiles. Even on a mobile platform such as Quest, users can examine surface patterns and detailed crater relief.
In addition, I implemented a spatial shadow projection system that utilizes the Scene Mesh, allowing simulated sunlight to cast the Moon’s shadow onto real walls and floors that match the actual geometry of the room. This creates the impression that the Moon is physically present and affecting the surrounding environment. The technique of spatial shadow projection is particularly distinctive in this application, revealing how a virtual celestial body and physical space can actively influence one another.
Development Notes
The entire application was developed by myself, as an artist, during the competition period. Completing a functional mixed-reality experience in just one month using open astronomical data demonstrates that a single individual can build an emotionally meaningful application for Quest with limited resources. I hope this approach encourages others and contributes positively to the Meta ecosystem.
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