Gamers and Astronomers

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What do video gamers and astronomers have in common? At first glance, you’d be hard pressed to find a connection. But, interestingly enough, there are a lot of gamers out there who are closeted astronomers and astronomers who love to play video games. I am one of those people and so are some of my friends. So, what is the connection? Gamers and astronomers are both explorers, looking to solve the big mysteries and complex riddles of life, often in otherworldly places.

Take No Man’s Sky, for example. This game lets players explore a universe with billions of planets, each with its own unique ecosystems. Nearly all the parts of the galaxy, including stars and planets and alien encounters are created using procedural generation and algorithms that actual scientists use to simulate galaxies. Gamers get to discover, explore, and experience the challenges, very much like an astronomer would in their search for habitable planets. 

Other games like the Kerbal Space Program give players a hands-on opportunity to design and launch spacecraft and explore the solar system. It uses orbital mechanics, allowing the player to change the trajectory of the rocket by applying thrust, the same principles used by real-life astronomers. Gamers get a small taste of life as an astronomer and space scientist. 

Similar to the Kerbal Space Program, Elite Dangerous is a space fight simulation game where the player commands a spaceship. The difference lies in that the exploration is a much more realistic 1:1 scale presentation of the Milky Way. 

Video games aren’t just fun and games, they can be useful tools to learn while having fun. They can spark curiosity about the cosmos, possibly even inspiring some to pursue a future as a space scientist.