Introductions

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

Hey everbody, it's me again...oh,oh yeah, this is my first time here.
Well, I just wanted to introduce myself and all that. I'm not new to computers, though forums are an entirely new frontier. I'm quite new to Celestia, but not my passion for Astronomy, though I'm sort of jumping back into it after many, many years. Seems like everything I thought I knew or learned has changed drastically. I don't really have any discernable talents so I wouldn't expect any great things from me. I've spent quite a few weeks downloading and installing upgraded textures, models and the like. Quite frankly I'm amazed and proud (for what it's worth) of all the quality add-ons from the likes of Selden, Grant, Jim Jens, Rassilon, Kileen, Darkmiss, Astro Boy (that was a great cartoon by the way for those who remember it), etc. I apologize if I left anyone out or misspelled a name (names are important), (digress-This darn wireless keyboard and mouse, they drive me sane) anyway you all have done a marvelous job (you too Chris) in rekindling passions for the Astronomical and Celestial Arts to countless followers. With my insanely tight schedule (join the club, right? ) I've actually found some time to work on some star texture improvements. Originally for upgrades to my own Celestia, but when I'm done I'll post them on my website (if I ever complete that update too) in case anyone else thinks they're good enough to use. I apologize for the long dissertation, but after all it's an introduction.

A few technical notes. I currently have three computers(I do websites and stuff). My latest is an AMD Athlon 2500+ W/Barton Core, 1 Gig PC2700 333Mhz DDR Ram, 80 GIg Hitachi HD @7200RPM, DVD-R/RW-CD-R/RW,
XFX G-Force 4 MX440 64MB DDRGraphics (gotta upgrade that real soon, but it's PCI not AGP)
I also have an Intel P4 1.6Ghz Toshiba laptop (cheap Savage graphics card) W/512 MB PC 2100 DDR 30 Gig HD CD/RW-DVD Combo used mainly for HTML stuff and other web scripts for the sites I'm working on.
The third is a 500Mhz Celeron desktop mainly for filing stuff.
Now the best part, my HO is in my basement boiler room.
I've been lucky enough to quickly grasp basic aspects of the Celestia coding, nothing fancy, just enough to do some minor tweaks-sometimes tutored-to the Celestia program.
Post Script/ Is it only me or is Celestia fascinatingly addicting. I can't seem to let go of it!
Well again my apologies(for volubility) and thank you all for bringing me home!

_________________

[selden]

Welcome to the madhouse!

Yes, Celestia really does need a warning label.

Code: Select all

Caution:
This program is addicting.

Not to be used by anyone with other commitments.
Installation of this program may lead to marital discord, missed deadlines and high network usage charges.
Side effects include education in celestial mechanics, planetography and astrophysics.
Other symptoms may be expertise in 3D modelling or improvement in English language skills.

Use at your own risk.


[Tech Sgt. Chen]

Touch?, jeu d'esprit Seldon!

[Darkmiss]

Hello and welcome Tech Sgt. Chen
good to have you here.

I dont Remember Astro boy, as i think it is an American cartoon

[TERRIER]

Tech Sgt Chen,
Hello and welcome!

As both you and Seldon have been saying, Celestia is VERY addictive. I often find myself staying up into the small hours after I've finished my shift at work - whether it's using Celestia, looking through the forum, or trying some 3d modeling.
I look forward to seeing your new star textures....then maybe nebulas, planets textures, spacecraft, etc etc ? Maybe even helping out on the programing side?

Do I detect a slight influence from the film Galaxy Quest?
It's been a while since I've seen it, but I thought it was very funny - mind you most films involving Alan Rickman tend to be good, and Sigourney Weaver's been in a few classics herself too!

Now as for Astroboy, I think he was very much Japanese;
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~roglen/astroboy.htm

regards
TERRIER

[bh]

Tech Sgt Chen...welcome aboard!! (I've just worked those out!!).
Mad as hell...the best forum on the net!

Regards...bh.

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

I was anticipating someone making the Chen connection! Wasn't entirely sure how long it would take. Galaxy Quest is the funniest Sci-Fi movie I've ever seen and a great Star Trek spoof.
A big GOLD SUPERNOVA for Terrier! He's on the money with the Astro Boy cartoon series. It was originally a Japanese series edited for American television. Terrier, what was the series circa? (We'll see just how good you are!)

As far as the star textures, like I said, I'm not very talented. What I actually did was to appropriate a cylindrical map of the sun from the NASA site (I'm on my laptop now and don't have the exact URL and image name; something like suncyl.jpg) along with some close-ups of various sunspots. I made some eliptical cuts of the spots and then pasted them onto the cylindrical map. I then blended the edges with Adobe Photo Shop Elements and Voila! It actually doesn't look too bad to me but I'd be almost embarassed to post them after seeing the quality of work from everyone else.

Post Script: Dare I mention exactly how many times I've watched Galaxy Quest? Thank you for the warm welcome!

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

My typing too is less than stellar, and this after years of typing reports.

[TERRIER]

Terrier, what was the series circa?

I'll have a guess at .....1963 to 1966 for the original series.

It looks like Australia was the first country to receive this Japanese export, and it seems that the series was/ is massively popular in the USA.
As for here in the UK, apart from being a pop-art icon, I'm not sure when and if the series was shown ?, yet alone popular?

I've also found out that, as is the case with Bart Simpson, that Astro Boy's (dubbed English) voice was spoken by a woman!

regards
TERRIER

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

Terrier wrote,
I'll have a guess at .....1963 to 1966 for the original series.

Wow! You are good!

[don]

"Ewwww, that's not right!"

Greetings and salutations, Tech Sgt. Chen! And welcome to Celestia. It is almost as addicting as Galaxy Quest.

Got any spare Barillium Spheres?

The first year it came out, I quit counting how many times my wife and I have watched this hillarious movie. And, it's been several times a year since. However ... since I found Celestia, back in May I think, we've not watched many full-length movies <sigh>. Just mostly old Stargate SG-1 series shows, while eating dinner. Yes, it's true, Celestia is quite addicting and I think it should be required to carry a WARNING label like Selden made!

I don't really have any discernable talents ...

Hahahahaha ... if you are serious about doing web sites, in this day and age, you have more talent than you give yourself credit for! Aside from being able to leap small buildings in a single bound.

Once again, a great big WELCOME Tech Sgt. Chen! Hang on tight! Celestia is better than the best amusement park ride you've ever been on!

-Don G.

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

Ewwww, that's not right!

Now there's a thought! Maybe my forum name should just be GUY!

I love the part where he get's hold of the alien weapon and maneuvers,
(superfluously-which is the key to the scene) down the corridor!

Post Script: Thanks for the warm welcome!

[don]

Howdy Tech Sgt. Chen,

I love the part where he get's hold of the alien weapon and maneuvers, (superfluously-which is the key to the scene) down the corridor!

Yes, just like a SWAT person. The other good one was the Commander diving and rolling around on the planet, while the others just walked. You just gotta watch a movie like this at least 5 times to even *catch* all the crazy stuff in it.

Good to have another GQ fan hangin' out here!

-Don G.

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

It's one of those movies where the little details make up the majority of the laughs! "That was a hell of a thing. What's the matter with them?"
"BY GRABTHARS HAMMER, YOU WILL BE AVENGED!"

[unclefungus]

Greetings!(took me five minutes to think of that one people.)
Having been a lurker for a while I thought it was high time to make contact. I thouroughly enjoy CELESTIA (when I have the time and it doesn't crap out on me).I hope This forum would provide me with the proper resources to make my experience more enjoyable, and,in time hope to contribute something that could be appreciated by all.