Celestia Forums

This is a question for Mr. Goyette, I think. Maybe Selden?

While revising my MarsTour script lately, I've noticed that there is no easy way to get from one side of the planet to the other.

Let me explain...

If I'm on the Spirit landing site, for example, and I then wish to view the Opportunity landing site, Celestia simply goes through the planet in order to get to the next location. I don't like this, and I tried to go to interim locations (In other words, places located half way around Mars, 1/4 of the way around Mars, etc.), but with less than satisfactory results.

Is there a more elegant solution to this problem?

Just thought I'd ask before I spent another sleepless night trying to zoom around the planet again.

Thanks, Bob

Unfortunately, the current version of Celestia always goes straight from one location to another. Maybe that'll change in a future version.

However, one thing you might try is to use "follow" instead of "synch orbit", set the time forward or back by about 12 hours and then goto the location. In other words, let Mars rotate under the viewpoint.

Thats what i was going to say: or change the time or accelerate...

Bob Hegwood wrote:If I'm on the Spirit landing site, for example, and I then wish to view the Opportunity landing site, Celestia simply goes through the planet in order to get to the next location. I don't like this, and I tried to go to interim locations (In other words, places located half way around Mars, 1/4 of the way around Mars, etc.), but with less than satisfactory results.

Maybe the orbit command would help? You could orbit Mars until you are on the other side, and then use a goto which wouldn't travel through the planet.

Harald

selden wrote:However, one thing you might try is to use "follow" instead of "synch orbit", set the time forward or back by about 12 hours and then goto the location. In other words, let Mars rotate under the viewpoint.

Now THERE's an idea worth pursuing... Thanks again Mr. Ball. You ARE the MAN!

Take care, Bob

Harry wrote:Maybe the orbit command would help? You could orbit Mars until you are on the other side, and then use a goto which wouldn't travel through the planet. Harald

I take it back Selden, it's now my opinion that Harry IS the MAN!

I tried the orbit approach as you suggested Harry, and it works a helluva lot better than anything ELSE I've tried.

Thanks very much for the tip.

Take care, Bob

Celestia also has a goto mode that moves along an arc instead of a straight line. You can see it in action when you move between two locations on the surface of the same object. Unfortunately, it's not yet exposed through the script interface, so orbit is your best bet for now.

--Chris

chris wrote:Celestia also has a goto mode that moves along an arc instead of a straight line. You can see it in action when you move between two locations on the surface of the same object. Unfortunately, it's not yet exposed through the script interface, so orbit is your best bet for now. --Chris

Thank you Chris - and thanks very much to Harry. I've modified the MarsTour to use the orbit commands with great success. Celestia is simply an AMAZING program.

Take care, Bob