Galaxy Images 2D vs. 3D

[FriQenstein]

Hello all,

I was wondering if there are any add-ons that present the galaxy's in a more 3D effect rather than a flap peice of paper?
I've searched, but didn't seem to find anything indicating otherwise.

While I do a bit of celestia creation myself, I am not an art wiz on the PC, so I'm not up to par for creating my own images that have any depth to them.

Just curious.
Tnx.

[t00fri]

Hello all,

I was wondering if there are any add-ons that present the galaxy's in a more 3D effect rather than a flap peice of paper?
I've searched, but didn't seem to find anything indicating otherwise.

While I do a bit of celestia creation myself, I am not an art wiz on the PC, so I'm not up to par for creating my own images that have any depth to them.

Just curious.
Tnx.

What published scientific information you have in mind that completely specifies the 3d properties of the 10000+ galaxies we have implemented in Celestia?

If you tell me, I do the 3d stuff for you

Bye Fridger

PS:

Of course that information is entirely lacking and that's why there is no 3d approach to galaxies in Celestia...The Celestia distribution at least is strictly based on available scientific information.

There are some isolated attempts in case of nebulae by
the user jll.

[FriQenstein]

Heh...

Well, I do understand that all information we have regarding our current celestial bodies in space are based on actual scientific findings, I'm not actually suggesting that I know the actual 3-deminsional aspects of anything up there.

I just meant that if you look at some of the add-ons for galaxies and nebulea and such, it's simply a flat paper image. (I'm not trying to downplay anyone's hardwork or attempts at add-on creation)
So in an instance when you rotate the FOV around a nebula or galaxy, you really see the flat pancake effect.

I was just interested in finding a bit more depth is all. And like I said, I understand that without proper knowledge of how big said object is, there is no way to really know how to create it, but since the galaxies cannot be 'entered' anyway, I figured they could atleast be a bit more 'depth' oriented since they are viewed from afar, where as a star can be zoomed into itslef, and a user can fly straight thru a galaxy. (did that make any sense? I lost myself I think...)

And like you stated, some of the nebula have a bit more to them than others, as do a few of the galaxy add-ons. I dl'd a few that seem to have had the 'top' half sandwiched to the 'bottom' half so that when you rotate the FOV/camera angle you can see a bit of substance to it vs. the flat paper image.

Again, I'm not trying to be complicated (though some may argue that one ) I'm just trying to get an idea of how much one could do as far as demos and vids with the program regarding the 'eye-candy' aspect of it all.

Tnx for the reply.

[t00fri]

Heh...

Well, I do understand that all information we have regarding our current celestial bodies in space are based on actual scientific findings, I'm not actually suggesting that I know the actual 3-deminsional aspects of anything up there.

Actually in my galaxy code of the official distribution (1.4.1), the spiral galaxies do have a small 3rd dimension, essentially like a pancake that is a bit thicker centrally. In contrast, elliptical galaxies are spheroidal in shape. These generic features are supported by observations. But that's all that is known.

I just meant that if you look at some of the add-ons for galaxies and nebulea and such, it's simply a flat paper image. (I'm not trying to downplay anyone's hardwork or attempts at add-on creation)

Add-on creation is entirely user business. So I have no comments here. I am not interested in rendering /individual/ galaxies. Because then I would have to decide which one of the 10 000nds of galaxies I should focus on . Mass rendering from catalog info is the challenge!

So in an instance when you rotate the FOV around a nebula or galaxy, you really see the flat pancake effect.

Spiral galaxies are KNOWN to be rather flat pancakes!
see above.

Bye Fridger

[ajtribick]

I seem to recall a while back an add-on which specified an extra object to hold the billboard, so that both the standard galaxy model and the billboard were displayed - this gave an interesting tradeoff between detail and 3D-ness.