Geo-Cosmos

Outline of exhibition

The Geo-Cosmos is a “globe-like display” made using organic LED panels. Looking at these images of clouds that have been taken from satellites, you are able to observe the everchanging Earth, while still being on our planet.

The Geo-Cosmos -- the world’s first spherical display made using organic electroluminescent (EL) panels -- presents a realistic view of the Earth shining brilliantly in space with a high resolution that exceeds 10 million pixels. The image of clouds floating on the screen reflects data photographed by meteorological satellites and input into the system daily. Thus, visitors see the constantly changing aspects of the Earth while remaining on the ground.

Genre: Tsunagari

Location: 1~5F (Discover your Earth)

Highlights and details　

Currentry on screening schedule

Geo-Cosmos can be viewed at any time from the first-floor Symbol Zone and the third- and fifth-floor display floors. (The first-floor Symbol Zone can be accessed free of charge.) Normally showing is “The Earth,” which gives you the feel of how our planet looks from outer space. At certain times during the day, the following programs will be screened.

The Earth

10:00-17:00

The images of clouds that have been taken from satellites over the past 90 days are put together as an eight-minute, 24-second video. Data from multiple satellites in geosynchronous (over the equator) and polar (connecting the North and South Poles) orbit are put together to show the cloud formations on the entire world. Every morning at 5:00 am, all the data from the previous 30 hours are combined to renew the video. You will be able to see the everchanging live Earth while you are in the Miraikan.

Digging the Future

11:00 / 13:00 / 15:00 (Approximately 4 minutes)

This video takes us from the creation of the Earth to the present, telling us through rap music what humans leave behind on the geological history our planet. It is possible that the plastic and concrete that humans continue to produce will remain to form a geological layer in the Earth’s distant future. Designating this hypothetical manmade stratum as the Anthropocene epoch, scientists who study the history of our plant through rocks, scientists who do so through evolution, and artists collaborated to create this video. * This video “Digging the Future” was produced with support from Aramco Asia Japan K.K., the Japanese subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Armco), the Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company.

Starting With What We Can See: What is “Global Warming”?

12:00 / 14:00 (Approximately 3 minutes)

The first step towards confronting global warming is to learn about the current situation. We have recreated data from the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite “IBUKI” (GOSAT) in a visible form so that you can “see” the quantity of gas released, the places from which it is released, and how it moves in the atmosphere. This content introduces a simulation that predicts upcoming changes in temperature, and uses images to consider the global environment of the future.

Apollo11 “The Eagle has landed.”

16:00 (Approximately 3 minutes)

This video portrays the Moon landing by Apollo 11, together with the lunar view recreated from the latest observation data. The story goes back half a century to take you through the final minutes up to the all-important landing of the Eagle, the Apollo 11 lunar module, complete with the voice recording of the communication with the mission control center. The visuals of the Moon have been recreated for this video from the lunar surface data from laser altimeters mounted on two satellites in orbit around the Moon, JAXA’s Kaguya and NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. It depicts the Moon’s unique contours in meticulous detail.

Geo-Cosmos Content Contest Winners

13:50 / 14:50 (Approximately 2 minutes)

These are award winners of the Geo-Cosmos Content Contest, which solicited entries aimed at opening up new possibilities and ways of expression for the globe-like display Geo-Cosmos. Three competitions were held, beginning in 2014, as part of Miraikan’s TSUNAGARI project, which explored the future of life and the Earth from multiple perspectives. Shown are the award winners of the second competition, themed “Time on the Globe,” and the third, themed “Invisible Reality.”

World Processor Powered by Geo-Gosmos (by Ingo Günther)

10:50 / 11:50 / 12:50 / 15:50 (Approximately 3 minutes)

World Processor powered by Geo-Cosmos - WP(x)GC, was created by Ingo Günther, a media artist and journalist originally from Germany. This is an ongoing project that illustrates humanity’s interaction with Earth. It presents distributions and movements in politics, economics, the environment, and social issues. The presentation is grouped into eight themes— Human Activities, Social, Borders, Water, Economics, Transportation, Communication, and Japan ≠ World Averages. It is best viewed from the third floor.