How to improve graphics in Celestia?

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TobiSwia11102001
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How to improve graphics in Celestia?

Post #1by TobiSwia11102001 » 19.12.2021, 09:29

Hi. Is there any script or something that can improve the graphics and shapes (that you can go down to the planet and see mountains, craters)? Something like a Space Engine. Please.

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trappistplanets
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Post #2by trappistplanets » 19.12.2021, 12:22

TobiSwia11102001 wrote:Hi. Is there any script or something that can improve the graphics and shapes (that you can go down to the planet and see mountains, craters)? Something like a Space Engine. Please.
oh god..... i think there is no way to add proceduraly generated surface topography on planets in celestia...
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Gurren Lagann
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Post #3by Gurren Lagann » 19.12.2021, 13:30

Pratically not a close-up terrain with 3D models and stuff (well, unless you have quite a LOT of space). But on the Motherlode, there are addons which use virtual textures (VTs) to add hi-res textures and normal maps to it.

In my personal opinion, my picks go to...

Mercury - http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_1069.html
Venus - http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_1070.html for surface, http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_1072.html for normal map
Earth - http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_61.html for surface, http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_490.html for normal, http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_511.html for night
Mars - http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_240.html for surface, and http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/addon/addon_499.html for normal.
Ceres (dwarf planet) - viewtopic.php?f=23&t=20803

As for the outer planets: i'm compliling virtual texture versions of then and their moons, currently for personal use. (Mainly from Askaniy and FarGetaNik) It heavily depends on license and permission to see if i can distribute then as VTs, but i can send the original textures if asked.
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trappistplanets
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Post #4by trappistplanets » 19.12.2021, 16:28

Gurren Lagann wrote:As for the outer planets: i'm compliling virtual texture versions of then and their moons, currently for personal use. (Mainly from Askaniy and FarGetaNik) It heavily depends on license and permission to see if i can distribute then as VTs, but i can send the original textures if asked.
did you do Pluto yet?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60012030@N02/albums/72157717015414428/
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SevenSpheres
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Post #5by SevenSpheres » 19.12.2021, 17:42

TobiSwia11102001 wrote:Hi. Is there any script or something that can improve the graphics and shapes (that you can go down to the planet and see mountains, craters)? Something like a Space Engine. Please.

The only way to do this is to use a 3D model(s). Using height maps for displacement (like SpaceEngine does) has been suggested, but would probably be difficult to implement and definitely won't happen until after version 1.7.0. Note, however, that even SpaceEngine doesn't have procedural levels of detail for real, mapped objects - the only way to do that is to use procedural generation; or to have Google Earth level resolution, which is impractical.

If you just want high-resolution maps of planets, without 3D surface terrain, refer to Gurren's post.
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john71
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Post #6by john71 » 20.12.2021, 17:36

Celestia's graphics are very good, but you need a lot of excellent textures:

Celestia - best 2.png
Last edited by john71 on 20.12.2021, 20:54, edited 1 time in total.

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trappistplanets
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Post #7by trappistplanets » 20.12.2021, 19:49

john71 wrote:Celestia's graphic is very good, but you need a lot of excellent textures:
yeah, agree, you need to find the best, highes resolution (use what your pc can handle, we don't need dying PCs) (and most accurate) textures
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