How to go to the surface of a body on Android and Chrome OS

[amoroso]

How can I go to the surface of a body with the mobile version of Celestia on Android and Chrome OS?

I use the Android app on both a Pixel 4 XL phone and a Chromebox with Chrome OS. On the phone, I can't find the goto surface command or gesture. It apparently isn't in any of the menus or settings screens. Long-tapping a selected planet or body doesn't bring up the context menu, which might hold the command.

On the Chromebox, Ctrl + G does nothing, as well as the many other keystrokes I tried. Long-clicking a body with any mouse button doesn't bring up the context menu.

Is there any other way of executing the goto surface command on either platform?

[Anthony_B_Russo10]

Just continue to zoom on to the object.

[Markerz]

Hi, the CTRL related shortcuts are missing in the current version, I will add it in the next release. May I ask if single key commands works with Chromebooks, I've never tested on chrome books?

I don't think I will be able to implement proper right mouse button support (including context menu) without a physical ChromeOS device. the emulator does not recognize right click at all. And my physical Android device always retreats right click as back button.

[amoroso]

Thanks Anthony_B_Russo10, I'm able to land on the surface by zooming in.

But, once there, on my Android phone I can't figure the gestures or actions to tilt the view and look at the sky as if standing on the surface, instead of looking down as if falling to the surface. However, on the Chromebox I can tilt the view with the arrow keys.

Markerz, thank you very much. I'd say most if not all single key commands work on my Chromebox such as G, C, the arrow keys, and so on. Would it be possible to add a single key command or another supported action to open the context menu?

[Markerz]

I will add a "land" button to the object information view in Android/iOS. As I said, I don't have hands on a ChromeOS device to test, I can't properly implement it. For now, please select the object and then click the information button on the sidebar, it should have most of the actions desktop Celestia offers.

[amoroso]

Thanks Markerz, much appreciated. The information menu is handy and has all the other actions I need.

To clarify why I'm trying to land on a body, I'd like to see what the sky and astronomical phenomena look like from the surface of the body. For example, seeing Phobos rise from the western horizon on Mars.

[Markerz]

I will add experimental support for context menu on Android (with long press) in the next beta. On ChromeOS it should be bridged to right click but I'm not able to test it. You should be able to test it when the next beta is out. Let me know if it works or not. join the beta program if you are not in.

[amoroso]

Sure, how can I get the Android Beta? Do I just sideload the APK?

[Markerz]

The beta is public, so you can just scroll down on Celestia's product page and see the beta program, however it is still being reviewed by Google, so the latest you see in the beta program does not include this.

If you can side load APK on chromeos, let me know I'll send you a build to test directly before we hit the play market

Added after 1 hour 52 minutes:
looks good.

[amoroso]

I joined the Beta on my Android phone.

I can't sideload APKs on Chrome OS without switching to developer mode, which reduces security. But it's not necessary as the Play Store let me join the Beta also from Chrome OS.

Thanks.

[Markerz]

The beta is out on Play, you should be able to see an update. This presumably also adds support for right mouse click/drag on chrome os. Switching to camera mode, and it would be almost identical to desktop celestia. But do read the Mouse/Keyboard controls in Help.

[amoroso]

I got the latest Beta and it works great, thanks!

On Android, once landed on an object I can't figure how to switch to alt-azimuth mode. Dragging and pinching doesn't apparently change the view.

On Chrome OS, right-clicking brings up the context menu and Ctrl commands such as Ctrl + G and Ctrl + F work as expected.

[Markerz]

how to switch to alt-azimuth mode

you would need to attach a physical keyboard to do that, using OTG. I don't think I will add a software keyboard to it, but suggestions are welcome for how to implement it in a good way in the future versions.

[amoroso]

I have a Bluetooth keyboard, I'll try it with my Android phone.

As for switching to alt-azimuth mode on Android, the only thing that comes to mind is another context or info menu item, with dragging gestures to view around.

[Markerz]

just made public release of 1.2, please update. it fixed the issue where mouse wheel zooms the wrong way around.

[amoroso]

I updated to version 1.2 on Chrome OS and now the mouse wheel zooms and works correctly.

[amoroso]

I quickly tested Celestia 1.2.2 for Android on my Pixel 4 XL with a Bluetooth keyboard. The keyboard seems to work as expected, in particular Ctrl+G and Ctrl+F.

[Markerz]

good to know.