Negative Venus Day length in r4493

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SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1)
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Negative Venus Day length in r4493

Post #1by SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) » 10.10.2008, 12:18

I've noticed, that after selecting Venus in r4493 one can find the following line in Verbose Information Text:

Code: Select all

Day length: -20996797.016 seconds


The absolute value of this number seems to be correct ( 243.0184839 days ). Is this line intentional or is it a bug?

Paul
"Physicists know what's important, but they don't know what is true. Mathematicians know what's true, but they don't know what is important."

ajtribick
Developer
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With us: 20 years 10 months

Re: Negative Venus Day length in r4493

Post #2by ajtribick » 10.10.2008, 12:49

Looks like the different systems of representing retrograde rotation strike again.

Also "day length" is a somewhat ambiguous term: to me it implies the length of a solar day, but is used by Celestia to represent the sidereal rotation period. The two are significantly different on Venus!

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Cham M
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Re: Negative Venus Day length in r4493

Post #3by Cham » 10.10.2008, 12:55

Yes, I agree that "Day length" is confusing. Should be "Rotation period" instead. Also, the number of 0 digits shown for many numbers is confusing for most students. The hud needs some adjustements.
"Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin", thought Alice; "but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!"


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