Most research data collections created or used by astronomers are
intrinsically multi-dimensional. In contrast, all visual representations of
data presented within research papers are exclusively 2-dimensional. We present
a resolution of this dichotomy that uses a novel technique for embedding
3-dimensional (3-d) visualisations of astronomy data sets in electronic-format
research papers. Our technique uses the latest Adobe Portable Document Format
extensions together with a new version of the S2PLOT programming library. The
3-d models can be easily rotated and explored by the reader and, in some cases,
modified. We demonstrate example applications of this technique including: 3-d
figures exhibiting subtle structure in redshift catalogues, colour-magnitude
diagrams and halo merger trees; 3-d isosurface and volume renderings of
cosmological simulations; and 3-d models of instructional diagrams and
instrument designs.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, submitted to New Astronomy. For paper with
3-dimensional embedded figures, see http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/s2plot/3dpd