"THE ABYSS OBSERVATORY" is a museum of ocean science and technology, which also celebrates the sense of wonder about the mysteries of the deep sea in 3D virtual space "Second Life"(SL)

The museum was founded by a joint group of Japanese volunteers and a U.S. creator of closed "the Abyss Museum of Ocean Science", and opened on Jan 28, 2010 in the NOAA's SIM "Second Earth 3", under supporting by SciLands.

We agree with SciLands to be licensing our contents under Creative Commons licenses to contribute for educational contents, except guest creator's works and purchased goods.

* Human in the Deep

- Abyss Explorium (by Rezago): General information, Cafe, Aquarium (basement), Gallery (1st floor, to be prepared), etc.

- Journey Into the Deep (by Rezago): 2000 meter deep water column in the sky with a submarine elevator).

- Historical submersible (by Rezago): Monturiol's innovative submersible "Ictineo I" constructed in 1858 - 1859, Beebe & Barton's Bathysphere, Bathyscaph "Trieste", Cousteau's Diving Saucer.

- Near future submersible"Quest 7000", ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle), AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle), OBS (Ocean Bottom Seismometers) in a diorama of a spreading center valley of ocean floor, thermal vents (Black smokers) and chemical synthesis ecosystem

- Harvor Branch's submersible "Clelia" (on the "Okeanos Explorer". by Asterion & NOAA)

- "Tektite habitat" (by Asterion & Media 70)

* Climate change prediction research

- In-situ ocean observation: Multi-bottle water sampler, Mooring buoy, Profiling floats (Argo floats), Underwater gliders

- NOAA ship OKEANOS EXPLORER (by Asterion & NOAA)

- Atmospheric observation: Doppler radar, Wind profiler, Automatic weather statiotion, GPS receiver

- Five sphere and Satellite observation: Atomsphere (MODIS's True color), Anthoroposphere (DMSP's City lights), Hydrosphere (AMSR/E's Ocean brightness), Biosphere (AVHRR's Vegetation and SeaWiFS's Plankton), Geosphere (ERS-2 and Shuttle's topography)

- Vector Parallel Supercomputer NEC SX-9 for climate simulation (C) NEC Corporation 2010.

* Second Meteorological Observatory (by comet Morigi): Real-time Visualization of Wind and Clouds in Second Life

* Marine Life Sanctuary: by guest creators Gonbe Shan and santen Juran (current list)

* Teleport world map to the SIMs related with earth science and marine technology.

* Images privided by JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology): Marine research facilities, deep marine lives, simulation result, etc.)

* Sense of Wonder Garden

- Jules Verne's research submarine "Nautilus" (by Reitsuki Kojima): faithful for Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues under the Sea"

- Fantasy works by SL creators (to be prepared)

- The Design Competition of Nautilus & the UnderSea World (from March 20, 2010)

* Curator's Art Collection: comet Morigi, Kerupa Flow, Cosma Wunderlich, Trill Zapatero, Walt Ireton, Lou Daines, LilyDay Darkstone, Sisi Biedermann, Geem Alekseev, Masterful Escape, Glyph Graves

- Make the public visible ocean research activities - not only ocean observation but also simulation and assimilation.
- Better understanding for Earth system and Global issues.
- Enable to visit ocean observation facilities from all over the world by SL.
- Gather up scattered SL assets of subsea technology, such as closed "Abyss museum".
- Encourage SL creators who interested in ocean technology.
- Collaborate with related museums about ocean research.

- 24th Nov. 2009: Japanese language seminar "Deep sea quest by a near future submersible" at Kira Cafe in SL
- 8th Dec, 2009: Japanese language seminar "Modern human's footprints on the sunken continent in Last Glacial Stage" at Kira Cafe in SL
- 12th Jan, 2010: Japanese language seminar "Physical laws of wind and cloud in SL" at Kira Cafe in SL