How to see planet axes and to shrink orbits

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Iridix
Posts: 1
Joined: 26.10.2008
With us: 16 years

How to see planet axes and to shrink orbits

Post #1by Iridix » 26.10.2008, 20:14

Dear Developers!

Thank you for great work! I use Celestia to study our Solar system dynamics and to confirm one hypothesis...
As i understand, Celestia does very precise simulation of celestial bodies dynamics - planets, satellites revolutions and their axes inclinations. A first very important question - is how precise this simulation of planets revolutions and axes inclinations ? And second question, more important - can onyone suggest me, how to elaborate Celestia to show extended celestial bodies axes and to scale orbits radius? I explain - a very hard to view/study solar system dynamics. It needs to fly over solar system here and there, orbits fades out. And each planet look as point. Instead, I need to see all solar system bodies all together.

Can anyone help me - to suggest how to elaborate Celestia? What to do?
1. To shrink solar system orbits radius to some scale (keeping all other)
2. To show well visible extended vector axes of revolution of each celestial body.

Thanks in advance.

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Hungry4info
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With us: 19 years 2 months
Location: Indiana, United States

Re: How to see planet axes and to shrink orbits

Post #2by Hungry4info » 27.10.2008, 22:54

In the data folder, you'll find a file called "solsys.ssc". Modify that such that the radii of the planets are significantly larger, or the semi-major axies are significantly (proportionally as well) smaller. (you may wish to make a backup first).
Current Setup:
Windows 7 64 bit. Celestia 1.6.0.
AMD Athlon Processor, 1.6 Ghz, 3 Gb RAM
ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics

BobHegwood
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Joined: 12.10.2007
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Re: How to see planet axes and to shrink orbits

Post #3by BobHegwood » 28.10.2008, 04:12

Hungry4info wrote:In the data folder, you'll find a file called "solsys.ssc". Modify that such that the radii of the planets are significantly larger, or the semi-major axies are significantly (proportionally as well) smaller. (you may wish to make a backup first).

Hungry,

As I'm sure you know, that file is called "solarsys.ssc" and not "solsys.ssc."
Sorry. Just trying to remove any undue confusion for this person. :wink:

Thanks, Brain-Dead
Brain-Dead Geezer Bob is now using...
Windows Vista Home Premium, 64-bit on a
Gateway Pentium Dual-Core CPU E5200, 2.5GHz
7 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, Nvidia GeForce 7100
Nvidia nForce 630i, 1680x1050 screen, Latest SVN

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John Van Vliet
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With us: 22 years 2 months

Re: How to see planet axes and to shrink orbits

Post #4by John Van Vliet » 28.10.2008, 05:08

--- edit ---
Last edited by John Van Vliet on 25.10.2013, 03:33, edited 1 time in total.

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selden
Developer
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Location: NY, USA

Re: How to see planet axes and to shrink orbits

Post #5by selden » 28.10.2008, 12:14

The Windows version of Celestia is always built with SPICE support included. If you're using Windows, you do not need to compile Celestia for that.

Planetary axes can be shown by using the right-mouse-button popup menu and selecting Reference Vectors. Additional orientation graphics will be included in v1.6

A way to make Celestia look more like an orrery, with oversized planets, is provided on the MotherLode. It's down near the bottom of the page http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/scripts.php

I hope this helps a little.
Selden


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