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How to get .xyz/.xyzv files for Celestia

Posted: 20.09.2022, 17:12
by EarthMoon
This is a small tutorial on how to get .xyz/.xyzv files for Celestia.

Get XYZ XYZV files for Celestia.zip
Download tutorial
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Posted: 20.09.2022, 17:55
by SevenSpheres
Why don't you post the tutorial here, instead of making people have to download it? It's just text and images.

Tutorial

Posted: 21.09.2022, 11:38
by EarthMoon
SevenSpheres wrote:Why don't you post the tutorial here, instead of making people have to download it? It's just text and images.

Good idea, I will post it here.



A tutorial to get .xyz/.xyzv files for Celestia



• 1. Go to https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons/app.html
• 2. Set "Ephemeris Type" to "Vector Table".
1.png

• 3. Select the Target Body. I will use the Moon for example.
2.png

• 4. Choose the Coordinate Center (the reference body), for example the Earth.
3.png

• 5. Set the time span and time step size.
4.png

• 6. Set the "Table Settings" like this:
• 6.1 Set "Output Quantities" either to "1. Position components {x,y,z} only   [.xyz file]" or to "2. State vector {x,y,z,Vx,Vy,Vz}   [.xyzv file]"
• 6.2 Set the other parameters to this:
5.png

• 7. Click "Generate Ephemeris".
• 8. The result should look like this:
6.png

• 9. Save the ephemeris.
• 10. Open the generated horizons_results.txt file in any text editor.
• 11. Delete everything before and the (first) "$$SOE" line:
7.png

• 12. Delete everything after and the (second) "$$SOE" line (near the ending of the file):
8.png

• 13. Delete all the " = A.D. ####-###-## ##:##:##.#### TDB":
9.png

• 14. The file should now look like this:
10.png

• 15. Rename the file to ###.xyz or ###.xyzv (see 6.1)
• 16. The file is now ready for use with Celestia!