Sphere rendering is an important method for visualizing molecular dyna
mics data. This paper presents a parallel algorithm that is almost 90
times faster than current graphics workstations. To render extremely l
arge data sets and large images, the algorithm uses the MIMD features
of the supercomputers to divide up the data, render independent partia
l images, and then finally composite the multiple partial images using
an optimal method. The algorithm and performance results are presente
d for the CM-5 and the T3D.